The first in a series on one of my favourites, Aki Kaurismaki.

I look at his first feature - Crime and Punishment - a bold statement of intent and a minefield of names to horribly mis-pronounce.

Resources:

https://youtu.be/0CW6z3r4Xr4?si=SijbjbP0EWSyIM2K

https://youtu.be/d9tp8rAaTsE?si=1BfH_BDsOIYOOy2W

https://youtu.be/GRbrzDZBlqg?si=Ah7mjzdxkliHqYZ0

If you have the means and the inclination a contribution here would be much appreciated:

https://ko-fi.com/mypicturehouse

In this episode I am joined by my old friend David O'Sullivan of Dyehouse films. We discuss the 1982 film First Blood and the way in which its use of three coats retells the passion of Christ.

Dyehouse films- Dyehouse Films

Moore Street Masala- https://youtu.be/_1taXkpCx88?si=bf5gHelP9Koiqb-8

In this episode I am joined by the film-maker Ian White. We talk about his choice of film – ‘if….’ By Lindsey Anderson (1968) and his own new documentary ‘Mutiny in Heaven’ (2023) that chronicles the fascinating history of The Birthday Party, one of the most influential, brilliant, violent and possessed bands of the 1980s.

We talk about matching form to subject, things that don’t exist anymore, the pleasures and pains of the digital and pre-digital worlds, the potential beauty of nihilism

For more information on where to see ‘Mutiny in Heaven’ in the cinema, streaming or to buy the DVD-

Birthday Party Movie - Mutiny in Heaven | documentary

Mutiny in Heaven — Cargo Film & Releasing (cargofilm-releasing.com)

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Anthony Litton returns to talk about Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive, Inland Empire and all things David Lynch.

Thinking about Evil watching David Lynch and reading Flannery O'Connor.

For a long time I have intended to make a film, this film, Francis, based on my feelings in relation to George Romero’s Martin. Martin is a vampire movie without a vampire but with a deep and deeply disquieting examination of religion, sex and culture. I loved Martin at first sight and instantly thought (felt) that the idea would make something wonderful about being Irish - and also a great werewolf movie.

This is my version of that film. I spent a long time thinking I just would never have the resources to make it, except as a short story and that is indeed how it started, until I suddenly had the idea ‘Why not La Jetée the thing?’ I am not sure if ‘to La Jetée’ will catch on as a verb in English but let’s give it a try.

It was made for basically nothing and I want those limitations to be part of the atmosphere – how else to capture that strange and intoxicating feeling of 70’s and 80’s exploitation cinema.

It is the story of a young man who has a miserable life, a violent early death, and seems to be having at least as bad a time of it in the afterlife. But in the answer to the question of why this is all so horrible there is possibly something beautiful and rather life affirming…but you’ll need to dig that out for yourself.

https://youtu.be/jmK6ryxsHOo