Nicetti's film is both an affectionate homage of 1940s neorealism and a critique of the effects of consumerism, and particularly Berlusconi's media, in 1980s Italy. Russ discusses the social historical background to the making of this film before we talk about Nichetti's background in circus, children's TV and adverts in addition to film directing. The film within the film is repeatedly interupted by TV adverts and cuts to a family watching at home until characters from one medium/story spill into the others.

Comic moments are highlighted - definite spoiler alert for this one - before talking about influences from silent slapstick cinema in particular.

Participants:

Russ Kilbourn, Professor of Literature and Film, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario (Canada) http://rjakilbourn.com/

Ken Barrett, visual artist, writer, podcaster and former neuropsychiatrist (UK) http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/

Theme music: Tarantella composed by Stephen Brown.

Portrait print by KB.

A Brainland Collective production.

#brainlandcollective #capolavoropodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is aboutLina Wertmuller's 1973 film Love and Anarchy (D'Amore e D'Anarchia), the first female director they've discussed. Wertmuller's route to direction is outlined, including her early career with an avant garde puppets theatre, then work with Fellini, before we unpick some of the detail in this exhuberant film. Set in and around a legal brothel in prewar fascist italy, the film tells the story of an anarchist from the sticks who comes to the city to assassinate Mussolini. Excellent performances and some unusual story telling make for a highly watchable and thought provoking film.

Participants:

Russ Kilbourn, Professor of Literature and Film, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario (Canada) http://rjakilbourn.com/

Ken Barrett, visual artist, writer, podcaster and former neuropsychiatrist (UK) http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/

Theme music: Tarantella composed by Stephen Brown.

Portrait print by KB.

A Brainland Collective production.

#brainlandcollective #capolavoropodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Russ and Ken talk about Bertolucci's 1970 film The Conformist (Il Conformista), based on Alberto Moravia's 1947 novel of the same name. Set in fascist Italy, mainly before WW2, it tells the story of Marcello whose desire to conform makes him embrace and become a willing puppet of the regime and a plot to kill a prominent antifascist living in Paris, but that only scratches the surface of this tale. The 29 year old cinematographer later went on to win 3 Oscars, including one for Apocalypse Now. Lots more interesting stuff. Take a listen...

Participants:

Russ Kilbourn, Professor of Literature and Film, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario (Canada) http://rjakilbourn.com/

Ken Barrett, visual artist, writer, podcaster and former neuropsychiatrist.http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/

The film: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065571/

The Novel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Conformist

Theme music: Tarantella composed by Stephen Brown.

Portrait print by KB.

A Brainland Collective production.

#brainlandcollective #capolavoropodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Russ and Ken talk about Michelangelo Antonioni's classic genre defying masterpiece 'L'Avventura' from 1960. After discussing the use of black and white in art house cinema in this period Russ outlines how the film has been critically interpreted as a kind of filmic philosophical investigation of existentialism by a director who, for the time, seems unusually aware of female sensibility. We also talk about various unconventional spects to the film making including shot choice, editing, music, sound and storytelling.

Participants:

Russ Kilbourn, Professor of Literature and Film, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario (Canada) http://rjakilbourn.com/

Ken Barrett, visual artist, writer, podcaster and former neuropsychiatrist.http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/

L'Avventura on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053619/

The film can be viewed in full for free on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJVI7aFREb4&t=3610s

Theme music: Tarantella composed by Stephen Brown.

Portrait print by KB.

A Brainland Collective production.

#brainlandcollective #capolavoropodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Russ and Ken discuss 'I Vitelloni' a Federico Fellini Classic from 1953, his first international success. We talk through the story, the main characters and what gives it classic status, including Fellini's use of humour, visual composition and characters. It's the story of a group of small town 'loafers' avoiding responsibility whilst hoping for better as Italy's post war economic boom kicks in, Religious imagery and characters get a mention (including a monk up a tree) and the includion of gay characters. To finish ther is some chat about film makers who credit its influence, including Scorsece, Lusas and Madden.

Participants:

Russ Kilbourn, Professor of Literature and Film, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario (Canada) http://rjakilbourn.com/

Ken Barrett, visual artist, writer, podcaster and former neuropsychiatrist.http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/

I Vitelloni (1953): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046521/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1

My Winnipeg (2007) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1093842/

The Children's Train (2024) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29242846/

Theme music: Tarantella composed by Stephen Brown.

Portrait print by KB.

A Brainland Collective production.

#brainlandcollective #capolavoropodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this podcast we set the scene for the series by discussing cinema under Mussolini including the creation of Cinecittà in Rome. We then talk about the director, and writers of 'Rome, Open City' (including Federico Fellini), the plot (execution of a priest and pregnant woman, based on true events that occurred only months before the film was made), problems in production, excellent performances, classic shots and the film's reception, followed by a wider discussion of sound and music in this period of Italian cinema.

Participants:

Russ Kilbourn, Professor of Literature and Film, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario (Canada) http://rjakilbourn.com/

Ken Barrett, visual artist, writer, podcaster and former neuropsychiatrist.http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/

Rome, Open City: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038890/

M, Son of the Century: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19386538/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1

The book on sound in Italian cinema by Antonella Sisto that Russ mentions:

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1057/9781137387714

Theme music: Tarantella composed by Stephen Brown.

Portrait print by KB.

A Brainland Collective production.

#brainlandcollective #capolavoro!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.