Wigs and Candles

Gaby and Andreina continue their exploration of art through period film and discuss the film Mr. Turner.

Directed by Mike Leigh and starring Timothy Spall as the English romantic painter J. M. W. Turner, the movie tells the story of the painter during the last 50 years of his life when he was at the peak of his artistic abilities.

Gaby and Andreina discuss Timothy Spall's portrayal of the painter and how the tone and style of the movie shape our perception of Turner's art.

Links and sources:

J. M. W. Turner

Untold Lives Blog: Hannah Danby – JMW Turner’s housekeeper

The Art of the Sublime

J.M.W. Turner RA (1775 - 1851)

In this first episode of the 5th season of Wigs and Candles, Andreina and Gaby discuss the film Hilma, a biographical movie about the Swedish painter Hilma af Klint.

Gaby and Andreina talk about Klint's career as a female painter in the 19th and early 20th centuries and her unusual approach to art and spiritual painting, a genre to which she greatly contributed.

Touching on themes of what it is to live a creative life and follow your artistic calling and dreams as a woman, Gaby and Andreina open the season with a film that deeply touched their hearts.

Links and sources:

Art historian Julia Voss on Hilma af Klint

See the Guggenheim Museum’s Most Popular Show Ever

Hilma af Klint Foundation

To cap off their 4th season,  Gaby and Andreina discuss the 1975 Stanley Kubrick film Barry Lyndon.

With the help of a very special guest, we discuss the technical marvels of this film as well as it enduring beauty and depth.

Sources and links:

Barry Lyndon Making of
Leon Vitali on Kubrick
Review from The Guardian
Roger Ebert Review

In this episode, Gaby, Andreina, and a special guest, discuss the beloved 2005 Joe Wright adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

One of the most popular adaptions of the novel by Jane Austen, the film remains surprisingly fresh after almost 20 years since it was released. Gaby, Andreina and their guest discuss the movie timelessness, the remarkable cast, and many other fun detours along the way.

***Spoiler alert! While reviewing this film we go through key scenes and may reveal the ending, so be warned of spoilers!***
Links and sources:

Short interview with Keyra Knightley

Behind the Scenes 

Pride & Prejudice BTS - The Politics of 18th Century Dating (2005)

The Cast

Manic Pixie Girl Trope

Wanderer above the Sea of Fog

Karolina Żebrowska: I watched every version of "Pride and Prejudice" so you don't have to

In this episode, Gaby and Andreina finally watch a movie they have been waiting a long time to discuss.

A Royal Affair, tells the story of Princess Caroline Matilda of Great Britain and her husband King Christian VII. The story follows the years during Christian's reign when the ideas of the Enlightenment start to be introduced into the kingdom, mainly through the influence of Johann Friedrich Struensee, a physician and thinker who is deeply influenced by the movement.

Released in 2012 in Denmark, A Royal Affair tells a story in which love, politics, ideas, and history intersect in astonishing and heartbreaking fashion. Join us as we discuss what it means for pivotal national historical moments to be portrayed in film and what makes a period film, well, a period film. 

***Spoiler alert! While reviewing this movie we go through key scenes and may reveal the ending, so be warned of spoilers!***
Sources & further readings:

Interview with cast + crew on the Berlinale 2012

Interview with Mads Mikkelsen - Empire Magazine

Making of documentary

Film Review on The Guardian

Historical Accuracy of A Royal Affair

In this episode, Andreina and Gabriela discuss the 2022 filmThe Woman King.
Written by  Dana Stevens and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, The Woman King tells the true story of the Agojie, an all-female warrior force in the Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1830s, in what is present-day Benin.

Starring a formidable Viola Davis as the military general who eventually would become the woman king, the film tells a story of bravery, sacrifice, and female empowerment hidden within the history books during one of the darkest periods in modern times: the transatlantic slave trade.

Andreina and Gabriela discuss the main cast performances, the power of representation, and their efforts to expand their knowledge of the history of women across the globe.

***Spoiler alert! While reviewing this film, we go through key scenes and may reveal the ending, so be warned of spoilers!***

Sources and links:

Interview with cast at TIFF 2022

Interview with Viola Davis and Cast

Thuso Mbedu in “The Daily Show” with Trevor Noah

Lashana Lynch and Thuso Mbedu in Good Morning America

Film review on The New York Times

Warrior Women with Lupita Nyongo

There’s nothing little in the story of this film nor in the significance of the topics it touches on. Greta Gerwig’s Little Women (2019) is a wonderful, fierce, and modern adaptation of this classic, bringing all the themes that have made it one of the most beloved books of the last 150 years. 

Centered on the character of Jo March, an aspiring writer, Little Women tells the story of the March sisters, four deeply loving but very different young women, all trying to find their path in life within the restrictions of 1860s American society. 

Join us as we review Little Women with a special guest and talk about feminism, safe female spaces, pervasive gender roles, how they impact men and women, and much more.

***Spoiler alert! While reviewing this film, we go through key scenes and may reveal the ending, so be warned of spoilers!***

Sources and links:

In-depth interview with the director and cast

Greta Gerwig on her idea for the film

In a baroque opera hall in Paris sometime in the late 1700s, there’s a concert taking place. 

The audience is hypnotized by the virtuosity of the main violin player and the beauty of the music. And still, the most puzzling fact about the scene is the player’s skin colour: it’s Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint Georges, and he’s Black. 

Born in Guadeloupe to an enslaved African woman and a French aristocrat, Joseph grows up in Paris and enjoys a high-class education. His talent for music can only benefit from this, making him a renowned musician and composer and gaining the favor of Queen Marie Antoinette and her entourage. 

It sounds as if the boundaries of race and class are diluted in this story. Only to discover that, by crossing a line that seemed unimportant, the colour of the skin is the only thing that suddenly matters. 

The story of Chevalier is fascinating, and is still hard to believe that it has remained untold for over two centuries. 
While reviewing this movie, we learn about hidden jewels in history, what it takes to bring them back to light, and what effect they have on a wider audience. 

***Spoiler alert! While reviewing this film, we go through key scenes and may reveal the ending, so be warned of spoilers!***

Sources and other links:

Interview with cast and crew

Kelvin Harrison Jr. on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon

Interview with the Cast and crew on the TIFF 2022 by “The Hollywood Reporter”

Cast, crew and other facts

The Liberator tells the story, in wide strokes, of Simón Bolívar, the military leader, and most important Venezuelan historical figure. In this episode, Gaby and Andreina discuss the 2013 film with the help of a very special guest. Placing the film in the historical and political context in which it was made, we look at the role of historical films in creating a national identity and memory. 

Join us as we discuss the relevance of cultural representation on the big screen, the humanisation of a mystified historical figure and the risks of too ambitious screenwriting. 

Sources:

The Liberator Interview with actor Edgar Ramirez
The Liberator Interview with director Alberto Arvelo (Spanish)
TIFF Interview with director Alberto Arvelo
Google Hangout The Liberator (Spanish)

In this episode, Andreina and Gabriela discuss the 2020 film Ammonite with a very special guest.

Ammonite tells the story of 19th-century British paleontologist Mary Anning.  An imaginary retelling of a brief period of her life, the film is directed by Francis Lee and stars Kate Winslet in the role of  Mary Anning and Saoirse Ronan as Charlotte Murchinson, her lover.

Join us as we discuss this period film mixing science, history, and romance in the South West of England. In the process, we explore the dichotomy between artistic vision vs reality, period film clichés, and what dignifies or not a character.

***Spoiler alert! While reviewing this show we go through key scenes and may reveal the ending, so be warned of spoilers!***

Sources & further readings:

Article with film’s synopsis prior to release

Interview with Kate Winslet on LGBTQ+ Representation and Honouring The History of Mary Anning

Behind the scenes

In this episode, Gaby and Andreina discuss the 2022 film Emily, written and directed by Frances O'Connor in her directorial debut. Emily is a part-fictional portrait of English writer Emily Brontë mostly converting the period of her life before she wrote her novel Wuthering Heights. Gaby and Andreina talk about the cinematic representation of Emily as a historical character, Brontë’s relationship with her equally celebrated siblings, and how the film fits within the period film movie genre.

***Spoiler alert! While reviewing this show we go through key scenes and may reveal the ending, so be warned of spoilers!***

Sources & further readings:

Interview with director Frances O’Connor and main cast at the People + Entertainment at TIFF 2022

And because they’re so good, here’s also the Q&A at the TIFF 2022

Film Review from The New York Times

In this episode, Gaby and Andreina discuss the 2022 Netflix movie The Wonder, based on the novel of the same name by Irish-Canadian writer Emma Donoghue. 
The movie, starring the brilliant Florence Pugh as a 19th-century nurse charged with observing a so-called “ fasting girl” in a rural town in Ireland in 1862, pushes against the limits of the period film genre and opens up conversations about science, religion, faith, and belief.  Joins us as we walk through this mysterious and fascinating film. 

The Wonder IMDB Page
Interview with Florence Pugh and Sebastian Lelio
Film review on The New YorkTimes
Interview with Emma Donoghue

In this episode, Gaby and Andreina discuss the much-talked-about 2022 Austrian movie Corsage, which depicts a year in the life of Elisabeth of Austria, better known as Sisi. 

Mixing historical fact with imaginative interpretation, the film is a fascinating portrayal of this beloved Austrian icon, one that remains more a myth than a real person in the general imagination. 

Gaby and Andreina also welcome a very special guest to talk about Sisi and help separate fact from fiction. 

***Spoiler alert! While reviewing this film, we go through key scenes and may reveal the ending, so be warned of spoilers!***

Trigger warning: in this episode, we briefly mention the name of Austrian actor Florian Teichtmeister, who in February 2023 was charged with possession of child pornography. We recorded this discussion prior to this news being reported and we understand if you need to skip this episode.

Sources and other links:

TIFF 2022 Women Directors: Meet Marie Kreutzer – Corsage

https://womenandhollywood.com/tiff-2022-women-directors-meet-marie-kreutzer-corsage

People +Entertainment weekly TIFF Studio 2022

https://youtu.be/OpfUWSiXdrQ  

Q&A on the TIFF 2022

https://youtu.be/4SLPnduOleA 

Marie Kreutzer on "Willkommen Österreich" (Interview in german!)

https://youtu.be/0Kf3v8mR07E 

We rarely find a more determined fictional female character in literature from the late 19th century than Bathsheba Everdeen. 

Guided by a strong will and a deep-rooted desire to build her path while keeping her full independence, Bathsheba learns the hard way that love and companionship are still not that bad after all. 

A film full of breathtaking landscapes, a plot with unexpected twists, and a love story to remember, Far from the Madding Crowd made us think about women's leadership in an unusual time and place as well as the hard choices we sometimes get in life. 

***Spoiler alert! While reviewing this film, we go through key scenes and may reveal the ending, so be warned of spoilers!***

Sources and other links:

Carey Mulligan on how she suggested casting Matthias Schoenaerts as Gabriel Oak

https://youtu.be/or_CQ_iAWA8

Carey Mulligan interview

https://youtu.be/jxgCL96ILsg 

 Making of “Far from the madding crowd”

https://youtu.be/JHhhXcxbwgw

Q&A Session with Thomas Vinterberg and Matthias Schoenarts

https://youtu.be/JbJBZaK7Kio 

To open up our third season, Gaby and Andreina discuss the South Korean film The Handmaiden, directed by Park Chan-wook.

Acclaimed by critics, this movie is a work of extraordinary vision from beginning to end: cinematography, performances, costume and set design, in addition to an incredibly well-written script–every detail of this film shows the highest ambition and achievement. 

We hope you enjoy our discussion and fall in love with this movie as much as we did. 

***Spoiler alert! While reviewing this film, we go through key scenes and may reveal the ending, so be warned of spoilers!***
Sources and other links:

Film review by Jia Tolentino on The New Yorker:

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/jia-tolentino/the-handmaiden-and-the-freedom-women-find-only-with-one-another

Short clip - Making of “The Handmaiden”:

https://youtu.be/pUQ5H_bF1Ck 

Interview with Sarah Waters, author of the novel “Fingersmith”

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/apr/08/sarah-waters-the-handmaiden-turns-pornography-into-a-spectacle-but-its-true-to-my-novel-

What do you get when you take a pitch-perfect cast, beautiful but expressive cinematography, restraint but character-revealing costumes, and an inspired and poetic direction? The 2011 adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel, Jane Eyre! 

Directed by then up-and-coming filmmaker Cary Fukunaga, it remains one of the most underrated period films of the last two decades. 

Join us as we discuss the incredible and timeless characters of Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester and the way they are portrayed in the film. Adriana–Gaby and Andreina's eldest sister–joins the hosts for an in-person, prosecco-filled discussion fit for a midsummer grand season finale. 

***Spoiler alert! While reviewing this film we go through key scenes and may reveal the ending, so be warned of spoilers!***

Sources and other links:

Jane Eyre IMDB Page

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1229822/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Jane Eyre Featurette

https://youtu.be/QaPNyABiGfU

“I’m gonna stand up, take my people with me, together we are going to a brand new home” – so sings Cyntia Erivo in the song “Stand Up,” the Academy Award nominated song for the film Harriet she co-wrote after playing the film’s leading role.  

In their first review of an American film so far, Andreina and Gabriela discuss the 2019 film Harriet, which tells the story of the abolitionist and social activist Harriet Tubman. Formerly enslaved, Tubman escaped to freedom in 1849 and then worked for the rest of her life to bring her family and other enslaved people to freedom.

Gaby and Andreina discuss casting choices (i.e. a British person playing an American historical figure), the differences between British and American period films, Cythia Erivo’s performance and much more. 

***Spoiler alert! While reviewing this film we go through key scenes and may reveal the ending, so be warned of spoilers!***

Sources and other links

Harriet  IMDB Page:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7248827/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

Harriet Cast and Crew Q&A | TIFF 2019:
https://youtu.be/9N8sgVS32fY  

Interview with Cast:
https://youtu.be/jtuhFw_g-Ug

Video of the title song:
https://youtu.be/sn19xvfoXvk 

Rogerebert.com Review:
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/harriet-movie-review-2019

Following Harriet Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/following-harriet/id1483073168

Oh, Emma! Got into trouble again? 
Although she always meant good, Jane Austen’s Emma is known for stirring things up in her hometown while playing the matchmaker. 

Set in the early 19th century, this all-time classic has been brought to the big screen in many ways, but which one is your favourite? 

We couldn’t answer this question easily so we watched two versions and tried to make up our minds!

So, tune in to listen to our discussion about Emma and Emma.! Two wonderful films, both true to the original material, but so different from each other. 

***Spoiler alert! While reviewing this film we go through key scenes and may reveal the ending, so be warned of spoilers!***

Sources and other links:

Emma (1996) IMDB

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116191/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2 

Emma (1996) Making Of

https://youtu.be/SMGlrlREOw8

Emma (1996) New York Times Review

https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/02/movies/so-genteel-so-scheming-so-austen.html

Emma. (2020) IMDB

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9214832/?ref_=tt_sims_tt_i_5 

 Emma. (2020) Q&A Session with Anya Taylor-Joy & director Autumn de Wilde 

https://youtu.be/QyDhhwDq-S4

Emma. (2020) The Guardian Review

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/feb/16/emma-review-autumn-de-wilde-anya-taylor-joy-bill-nighy-johnny-flynn 

Acclaimed by many as avant garde cinema and derided by others for being too frivolous, Sophia Coppola’s “Marie Antoinette,'' from 2006, offers indeed a lot to talk about!

Starring an outstanding Kirsten Dunst, this Marie Antoinette is a woman full of passion, motherly love and sense of duty–perhaps a more sympathetic portrayal than we have seen in other films.  

Either you love the colorful and luscious production design and celebrate the modern touches of pop music and teenage-like parties, or you’re irritated by the immaturity of the king and the superficiality of the story-telling. 

Which side are you on? 

***Spoiler alert! While reviewing this film we go through key scenes and may reveal the ending, so be warned of spoilers!***

Sources and other links:

Marie Antoinette IMDB Page:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0422720/?ref_=tt_urv 

Marie Antoinette (The Guardian Review): 

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/oct/20/drama.romance 

Marie Antoinette (2006) - The Making of "Marie Antoinette": 

https://youtu.be/G2oIh54LfOI 

In 1909, same-sex relationships were illegal in Great Britain and the consequences of being “caught” were heavy and, at times, catastrophic.

Imagine yourself trapped in that situation of not being able to live your love and passion in freedom–without a doubt, a terrifying, soul-crushing feeling.

The 1987 Merchant-Ivory film Maurice, based on the novel by the same name by E. M. Forster, gives us a glimpse into the asphyxiating constraints early 20th-century British society placed on gay people and their aspirations and desires. 

While not necessarily an audience magnet at the time of its release, this film touched us deeply and drove us to have one of the most whole-hearted discussions we’ve had so far in our podcast series. 

An impeccable production with stunning performances, Maurice resonates today with an eternal message: follow your heart, follow your true self, for this is the only way to live an honest life. 

***Spoiler alert! While reviewing this film we go through key scenes and may reveal the ending, so be warned of spoilers!***

Sources and other links:

Maurice IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093512/?ref_=tt_urv 

Roger Ebert's Review of Maurice: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/maurice-1987 

Maurice (1987) - Conversation with the Filmmakers: https://youtu.be/1bY9cU7goYo