Take This Waltz and Paper Year are two standout Canadian films exploring the end of a marriage with empathy and emotional complexity. We discuss the film’s complex characters, considerate direction, and Canadianess
Orla Smith podcast
Ep. 42: Normal People and On Chesil Beach
This episode compares recent hit Normal People and site favourite On Chesil Beach, which both feature couples failing to communicate.
Ep. 40: Stories We Tell, Louder Than Bombs, & Mouthpiece: Dead mothers
This episode is on Stories We Tell, Louder Than Bombs, and Mouthpiece, formally expressive explorations of grief, memory, and subjectivity.
Ep. 38: Australian westerns and True History of the Kelly Gang
In this episode, special guest Debbie Zhou joins us to discuss what defines the Australian Western, featuring True History of the Kelly Gang, Sweet Country, and The Dressmaker.
Ep. 37: Meek’s Cutoff and subverting the western
Kelly Reichardt has directed two films set in the 19th century American West, Meek’s Cutoff (2010) and First Cow (2019). To explore how she differs from the traditional Western genre, we compare her films with Oregon-set Bend of the River (1952) and cow film Red River (1948).
Ep. 36: Never Rarely Sometimes Always and abortion on screen
Inspired by Eliza Hittman’s new drama, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, we discuss various depictions of abortion on screen ranging from this year’s Saint Frances to Obvious Child and 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days. For this discussion, Editor-in-Chief Alex Heeney is joined by Executive Editor Orla Smith and guest Lindsay Pugh of Woman in Revolt.