Di, 2. Okt. 2018
Girls On Film is a new film review podcast from a female perspective, hosted by film critic and broadcaster Anna Smith. Episode 1 (pilot): This week, the Girls On Film review Agnes Varda's Faces Places, debate diversity in film criticism and put new movies to the Bechdel Test, including Widows, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, First Man, American Animals and a surprise choice that we dub 'Spanx and the City'... Host: Anna Smith, Critics' Circle President and film critic for the BBC, Sky, Time Out, Metro, Sight and Sound and The Guardian. Guests: Kate Muir, former chief film critic at the Times and now a screenwriter and campaigner with Time's Up UK, Women and Hollywood and Birds' Eye View. Corrina Antrobus, film writer and founder of the Bechdel Test Fest. An HLA Production, Executive producer Hedda Archbold, Producer Jane Long. Music courtesy of MX Tyrants. Follow Anna on Twitter @annasmithjourno.
Mo, 15. Okt. 2018
In episode 2 of Girls On Film, host Anna Smith is joined by film critics Larushka Ivan-Zadeh and Helen O'Hara to review A Star Is Born, starring Lady Gaga and directed by Bradley Cooper. Films put to the Bechdel Test include Ant-Man and the Wasp, Pili, The Breaker Upperers, Bad Times at the El Royale and Venom. Finally, writer-director Carol Morley chats to Anna at the London Film Festival about her upcoming film Out Of Blue. Girls on Film is an HLA production, produced by Hedda Archbold and Jane Long. Follow Anna on Twitter @annasmithjourno.
Mo, 20. Apr. 2020
Film critic Hanna Flint is joined by her mother, former MP Caroline Flint, to discuss Little Women - the book and the film. The pair chat with host Anna Smith about their personal relationship with Louisa May Alcott's novel and Greta Gerwig's adaptation, and the story's relevance to modern day feminism. In our latest Isolation Pod, Hanna and Caroline also share their recommendations for home viewing. They reveal which films they have watched the most times, and review two new digital releases: Love Wedding Repeat and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Anna also interviews Hollie Fraser, the founder of Books on the Underground, who shares her stories about working with Emma Watson.
Mo, 27. Apr. 2020
Director Carol Morley joins Anna Smith to talk about her #FridayFilmClub, the weekly watch party uniting film fans during lockdown. She shares heartwarming stories about the way it's brought cinema lovers together, and explains how gender and diversity inform her film choices. She also gives an update on her upcoming films and tells how she discovered a young Florence Pugh while casting The Falling, revealing details of the schoolgirl's incredible audition. Three listeners who responded to our #LittleWomenBookClub invitation join Anna from their homes across the world. From the Netherlands, mother and daughter Lauri and Julia explain how the book has been passed down the generations in their family, and in the UK, 13-year-old Hannah gives her verdict after picking up the book for the first time. Finally, Total Film magazine's Editor-In-Chief, Jane Crowther, returns to Girls On Film to review three new digital releases: female spy thriller The Rhythm Section starring Blake Lively, erotic psychodrama Who You Think I Am starring Juliette Binoche, and buddy comedy Like A Boss, starring Tiffany Haddish, Rose Byrne and Salma Hayek.
Fr, 8. Mai 2020
Inspired by real-life stories, The Assistant is a day in the life of a young woman(Julia Garner) who's working for a powerful film producer. Writer-director Kitty Green joins host Anna Smith for an in-depth interview about power dynamics in the workplace, and making this film in the wake of the Weinstein scandal. Kitty also offers advice for filmmakers who are starting out. Observer film critic Simran Hans returns to Girls On Film to give her views on The Assistant, and recommends two more films for home viewing: the foodie documentary Diana Kennedy - Nothing Fancy and a vintage rom com gem, Crossing Delancey.
Fr, 8. Mai 2020
Empire film critic Helen O'Hara and broadcaster Wendy Lloyd take a deep dive into Greta Gerwig's Little Women in this uplifting episode celebrating the joys of the award-winning classic. Along with host Anna Smith, they take a look at the themes, the performances and the enduring feminist message, examining Gerwig's clever use of structure and time. The critics also review the new thriller Ema, Michelle Obama doc Becoming, the Netflix film Carrie Pilby and the Margot Robbie starrer Birds of Prey, all available to watch now at home.
Mo, 18. Mai 2020
Host Anna Smith is joined by trailblazing Oscar-winner Anne Dudley and BAFTA Breakthrough Brit Nainita Desai. They talk about their careers as film composers, in the first of two episodes partnered with Scala Radio. Anne and Nainita discuss the details and challenges of this offscreen role, and share their stories of breaking into the film scoring industry. Addressing gender imbalance, we look to the positive changes taking place - and how to keep them going. Anne remembers attending the Academy Awards for The Full Monty, while Nainita talks about scoring the award-winning documentary For Sama. Adapting to lockdown life along with the rest of us, Nainita talks about her new project connecting musicians with composers to keep the industry in motion throughout the pandemic. We also learn which classic scores inspired our guests to make a career of composing - and that even they are not immune to the power of ABBA.
Sa, 30. Mai 2020
This episode features extended, uncut interviews from the latest Girls On Film YouTube show with the British Film Institute. Actor Monica Dolan chats about her leading role in Days of the Bagnold Summer, and about collaborating with writers and directors in films including Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa and The Falling. She explores three of her favourite iconic female roles in cinema, and shares her views on the visibility of female directors. Actor, writer and director Desiree Akhavan talks about the delicate balance of directing sex scenes in The Miseducation of Cameron Post and Appropriate Behaviour, and shares a message for 'film nerds' in isolation. Writer and director Mark Cousins becomes Girls On Film's second ever male guest, and reveals the behind the scenes story behind Women Make Film, paying tribute to his iconic narrators including Tilda Swinton and Jane Fonda. Finally, director Nisha Ganatra (Late Night) talks about her new film The High Note starring Tracee Ellis Ross and Dakota Johnson. She shares her upbeat views about the future for female directors and her solution for reaching gender parity.
Di, 9. Juni 2020
Isobel Waller-Bridge talks about living and working with her sister, Phoebe, in the second of our special episodes with Scala Radio. The composer talks about life in lockdown, Fleabag, Vita and Virginia and composing electronic scores for period film and TV. She's joined by Anne Nikitin, who scored the award-winning film American Animals. The two compare notes about their experiences in a male-dominated field, and their conflicting thoughts about being labelled 'female composers'. They also explore the difference between Hollywood and Britain's film industry. Anna's third guest is an Emmy and Academy Award winning composer who has been scoring blockbuster films for over two decades: Rachel Portman. Rachel describes working with Mike Leigh on Life is Sweet, Lynne Ramsay on Ratcatcher and gives a fascinating insight into her working life, from indie movies to big budget Hollywood. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in music and film.
Mi, 24. Juni 2020
Young Irish actor Lola Petticrew (A Bump Along The Way) joins Anna to chat about her new comedy Dating Amber, directed by David Freyne. She plays Amber, a lesbian schoolgirl who pretends to date Eddie (Fionn O'Shea - Normal People) so the pair can pose as straight. As Eddie struggles with his sexual identity, he and Amber grow closer. Lola talks frankly about the film, her friendship with her co-star and her own journey to coming out as queer. Carrie Lyell, the editor of DIVA magazine, is our guest reviewer and discusses Dating Amber with Anna. The two critics also revisit the 1999 film But I'm A Cheerleader, a comedy set in a gay conversion camp and starring Natasha Lyonne. They also pay tribute to Girls On Film favourite Booksmart.
Mi, 1. Juli 2020
It's Pride season. And we're bringing you a packed Pride special. Actress and vocal LGBTQ+ advocate Bella Thorne joins Anna to talk pansexuality, love and support in the queer community, and the power of social media to make real social change. She also unpacks her starring role in Bonnie and Clyde-style crime thriller Infamous, as well as quirky college comedy The Duff. Plus, guest critic and Dr of Film Becca Harrison drops in to review three brilliant queer films you can stream for a Pride celebration on your sofa: bittersweet political Brit-flick Pride, Todd Haynes' Oscar-nominated lesbian love story Carol, and recent Girls On Film guest Desiree Akhavan's bisexual comedy drama Appropriate Behaviour.
Di, 14. Juli 2020
This episode is a deep dive into the hit show Little Fires Everywhere. Based on the novel by Celeste Ng, it's the gripping story of artist Mia (Kerry Washington), who upsets the suburban life of controlling mother Elena (Reese Witherspoon). US journalist Valerie Complex and British broadcaster Rhianna Dhillon join Anna to explore the show's themes including privilege, racism, microaggressions, adoption and abortion. Avoiding major spoilers, they share their favourite moments from the series and pay tribute to the late, great director Lynn Shelton. They also bond over their love of classic British sitcoms.
Fr, 17. Juli 2020
An uplifting summer camp doc and a hard-hitting death row drama are explored in a special episode with Birds' Eye View. Our first guest is Chinonye Chukwu, writer director of Sundance Grand Jury Prizewinner Clemency. It follows the story of prison warden Bernadine Williams - played by Alfre Woodard - who is forced to confront the psychological impact of her profession as she prepares to execute yet another inmate, played by Aldis Hodge. Next we hear from the directors of Crip Camp, a documentary about equal opportunities, activism and teenagers having fun. Co-directed by Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht, it goes back to the 1970s when LeBrecht had the summer of his life at a hippy camp for teens with disabilities - a summer that would inspire lasting change in the disability community. We are also joined by Mia Bays, the Director At Large of Birds' Eye View.
Mi, 22. Juli 2020
Rachel Griffiths (Muriel's Wedding, Six Feet Under) and Ruth Madeley (Years and Years) give exclusive interviews about their work in this special uncut version of our latest video show on the BFI YouTube. Actor Ruth Madeley talks to Anna about Diversity In Ability and her latest film, Verisimilitude, in which she plays a wheelchair user training an able bodied actor for a role as a character with disabilities. She talks about the practice of casting able bodied actors and explains her views about the urgent need for change. Rachel Griffiths shares the inside track on her directorial debut, Ride Like A Girl, and explains how important it is to cast actors with Downs Syndrome. She also shares hilarious stories about filming Muriel's Wedding, talks about her intense role in Six Feet Under, and brings her French bulldog in for a chat.
Di, 28. Juli 2020
Caitlin Moran and Coky Giedroyc give exclusive interviews about their new film How To Build A Girl, a coming-of-age tale of rock n roll and reinvention amid the male-dominated music press of the 1990s. The film is based on the Moran's girlhood in working-class Wolverhampton. Like her heroine Johanna (played by Booksmart star Beanie Feldstein), Moran began her journalistic career as a rock critic aged just 16. She is now a broadcaster, Times columnist, author and contemporary voice on feminism. Director Coky Giedroyc - sister of Mel - joins us to celebrate sexuality and sanitary towels in cinema, and tells us about working with the marvellous Beanie Feldstein. Sharing her tips on surviving and thriving as a female director, she has high hopes for the future of women in film and the fighting spirit to achieve them.
Mi, 12. Aug. 2020
The writers of Legally Blonde join us to spill the inside story on the beloved 2001 comedy starring Reese Witherspoon as perky law student Elle Woods. Kristen "Kiwi" Smith and Karen McCullah talk about adapting Amanda Brown's novel for the big screen, describing the moment of inspiration for the iconic 'bend and snap' move and revealing which cast member was difficult to handle on set... Meanwhile, Empire film critic Helen O'Hara talks about her own legal past and revisits Legally Blonde with host Anna Smith. The pair also discuss other films with female lawyers, from A Time to Kill to On the Basis of Sex.
Fr, 21. Aug. 2020
Chemical Hearts stars Coral Peña and Kara Young join Anna for a spirited conversation about brown queer love on screen, describing how their characters were developed from Krystal Sutherland's novel. They talk about their real-life friendship, their support network on set, and share what they've been watching at home, from Pose to I May Destroy You. Award-winning Young Adult author Tanya Byrne also shares her passion for LGBTQ+ stories and raises an interesting point about M/M love stories and mainstream success. She also has a top TED talk tip for those keen to bring authenticity to their writing.
Fr, 28. Aug. 2020
Eliza Scanlen joins Anna for an exclusive interview about her new film Babyteeth, a bitterly funny and moving drama directed by Shannon Murphy. She also talks about working with Greta Gerwig on Little Women, and her hopes for women in the film industry. Film critic Larushka Ivan-Zadeh reviews Babyteeth with Anna, along with two other female-directed films: Summerland and Make Up. Finally, we talk about an intriguing new test for films: the Clit Test.
Do, 3. Sept. 2020
Critics Wendy Ide and Kate Muir take a deep dive into Tenet and the treatment of its female characters. The first blockbuster release since lockdown delivers an exciting, action-packed time-twisting spectacle that calls for us to (safely!) return to the big screen, but does it have a problem with women? Along with host Anna Smith, the critics explore the characters played by Elizabeth Debicki, Clémence Poésy and Dimple Kapadia, and consider them alongside Nolan's past on-screen constructions of women. Listen now to find out the sinister meaning behind "fridging" and why you should watch Tenet twice. Beware of some moderate spoilers.
Di, 15. Sept. 2020
Critics and superhero fans Mae Abdulbaki and Allison Shoemaker join our host, Anna Smith, for enthused discussions on two Amazon Prime Video series: The Boys and Stargirl. Discovering that, ironically, The Boys has a lot to say about its female characters, the critics examine the diverse, kick-ass women of this darkly funny show and praise its Me-Too-era storyline. Moving onto the more family-friendly Stargirl, they applaud the uplifting, female-centric story that follows three teenage girls as they adopt superhero abilities to fight injustice. Stay tuned to find out how both shows have interesting relations to Back To The Future II. Beware of minor spoilers. The critics round up by offering what else they've been watching recently, from His Girl Friday (1940) to First Cow (2019). Mae Abdulbaki: critic and entertainment writer for The Washington Post, Film School Rejects, and more. Allison Shoemaker: freelance film and television critic for The AV Club, Consequence of Sound, and more.
Fr, 25. Sept. 2020
Writer and director Channing Godfrey Peoples joins Anna for an eye-opening discussion about her new film, Miss Juneteenth. In UK cinemas from 25th September 2020, this movie is a warm and intimate portrait of former pageant winner Turquoise Jones (Nicole Beharie), as she prepares her daughter, Kai (Alexis Chikaeze), for the annual Miss Juneteenth pageant and navigates her life within the close-knit Black community of Fort Worth, Texas. Channing reveals the personal inspiration behind her story, explains the role that the arts can play in the Black Lives Matter movement, and hints at what she is working on next. Next, Anna welcomes fellow critic Corrina Antrobus back to the show to review the film. They talk about Nicole's remarkable performance, the nuanced relationships presented onscreen, and the significance of a 'dream deferred'. This jam-packed show also includes fantastic film recommendations.
Di, 29. Sept. 2020
Celebrating our 50th episode, actors Sasha Lane and Ashleigh LaThrop join the party to talk about their roles in Gillian Flynn's Utopia, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. An intense adaptation of Dennis Kelly's British television series, the show follows a team of comic book fans as they try to prevent a viral pandemic. Sasha delves into the twisted psychology of her character, the infamous Jessica Hyde, and hints at the new layers that Gillian has brought to the story. Stay tuned for Sasha's tips on how to urinate standing up. Next, Ashleigh LaThrop speaks to Anna about the challenges of her role as Becky, and the nerdy antics that herself and Gillian got up to on set. She also shares her experience working on The Handmaid's Tale, expresses her love for Meryl Streep, and talks about representation on screen. Our 50th episode concludes with a special trivia competition, giving you lucky listeners the chance to win a pair of Forbidden Forest cinema tickets.