SEEING FACES IN MOVIES

Felicia is joined by Kazmo to discuss the influence of the western genre on John Carpenter’s Assault on Precinct 13 (1976). We chat about his use of multicultural cast members, and how he builds tension in the central locations in films. Send us your thoughts on the episode by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: seeingfacesinmovies@gmail.com Find Kazmo here: Twitter: @heykazmo You can check out Kazmo’s appearances on the following podcasts: Movie Friends Podcast: https://linktr.ee/moviefriendspodcast Bad Movies We Love Podcast: https://linktr.ee/nicksheist Sources: https://mubi.com/en/notebook/posts/notebook-primer-john-carpenter https://mubi.com/en/notebook/posts/john-carpenters-deep-cuts https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/interviews/john-carpenter-dark-star-assault-precinct-13 https://maddrey.blogspot.com/2017/06/john-carpenter-revisited-assault-on.html https://cinephiliabeyond.org/assault-on-precinct-13/

Felicia is joined by Nick Sheist to discuss John Carpenter’s exploration of the evil among us in They Live (1988). We chat about how the film is relevant now more than ever, and the realistic portrayal of Los Angeles in the 80s. This is the series opener and diving into the work of John Carpenter seems like a long time coming for this show. We’ll be covering some of his most important work and his fan favourites. Send us your thoughts on the episode by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: seeingfacesinmovies@gmail.com Find Nick here: Linktree where you can find links to all of his shows and socials: https://linktr.ee/nicksheist Listen to our previous episode here: Christine (John Carpenter 1983) Sources: https://cinephiliabeyond.org/live-john-carpenters-brilliantly-simple-hugely-enjoyable-assault-reagans-america/ https://theasc.com/articles/from-outer-space-they-live https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/scifi/they-live-truth.html https://archive.nerdist.com/interview-john-carpenter-on-reviving-they-live/ https://filmotomy.com/1988-in-film-they-live/ https://psychodrivein.com/drive-in-saturday-they-live-1988/ https://offscreen.com/view/they-live-john-carpenter-1988 https://thequietus.com/interviews/john-carpenter-interview-2/

Felicia is joined by Rolo Tony to discuss Fritz Lang’s return to his roots as he blends German expressionism and film noir in Ministry of Fear (1944). We chat about the impact of the set design along with the power of Ray Milland’s performance. Send us your thoughts on the episode by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: seeingfacesinmovies@gmail.com Find Rolo Tony here: Twitter: @PoorOldRoloTony Letterboxd: @PoorOldRoloTony YouTube: @PoorOldRoloTony Twitter: @GuysGotJuice Spotify: @TheseGuysGotJuice Listen to our previous episodes here: Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (Jim Jarmusch 1999) A Woman Under the Influence (John Cassavetes 1974) Sources: Eisner, L. H. (1984). Fritz Lang. Cahiers du cinéma/Editions de l’étoile : Cinémathèque française. https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/2690-ministry-of-fear-paranoid-style https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2022/cteq/an-entertainment-fritz-langs-ministry-of-fear-1944/ https://www.londonfictions.com/graham-greene-the-ministry-of-fear.html https://mubi.com/en/notebook/posts/ministry-of-fear-love-during-wartime https://mubi.com/en/notebook/posts/the-forgotten-auld-lang-syne https://www.criterion.com/films/28065-ministry-of-fear?srsltid=AfmBOoqHJpuDu7frQOsoLl3Tg5Mcvo4IqBCqmwIAYBqx2wOmLqaRgqPT https://vintagestardust.wordpress.com/2025/07/27/hans-dreier-art-director/

Felicia is joined by Martin Kessler to discuss Fritz Lang’s first foray into the world of sound in his film M (1931). We chat about what led Lang to finally make his first talkie, and how he allows the audience to use their imagination in full by not showing the violence on screen. This is the series opener and Fritz Lang is a director I have wanted to discuss on the show for a long time. I mainly focused on his career in America and I wanted to discuss the slightly lesser known films to show his great range. Send us your thoughts on the episode by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: seeingfacesinmovies@gmail.com Find Martin here: Twitter: @MovieKessler Website: The Pink Smoke Spotify: @ThePinkSmoke Apple: @ThePinkSmoke Soundcloud: @ThePinkSmoke Deaf Crocodile Commentaries: Website: https://deafcrocodile.com/ The Tragedy of Man (Marcell Jankovics 2011) Song of the Miraculous Hind (Marcell Jankovics 2002) Listen to our previous episodes here: The Landlord (D.O.P. Gordon Willis 1970) Opening Night (John Cassavetes 1977) Sources: Eisner, L. H. (1984). Fritz Lang. Cahiers du cinéma/Editions de l’étoile : Cinémathèque française. https://mubi.com/en/notebook/posts/interview-with-fritz-lang-beverley-hills-august-12-1972 https://www.tcm.com/articles/38694/m-1931 https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/1457-my-film-m-a-factual-report https://www.c-span.org/clip/public-affairs-event/peter-bogdanovich-on-fritz-langs-m/4994498

Felicia is joined by Geoff Thomas to discuss Jean Renoir’s first colour film as he ventures over to India in The River (1951). We discuss his treatment and adoration of the characters in his films, along with his natural instinct to collaborate with other artists. Send us your thoughts on the episode by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: seeingfacesinmovies@gmail.com Find Geoff here: IG: @cinema_gnt Letterboxd:@gnthomas Website:https://cinemamemry.wordpress.com/ Spotify: @cinematicmeoriespodcast Spotify: @dontdespisemepodcast Apple Podcasts: @cinematicmemoriespodcast Apple Podcasts: @dontdespisemepodcast Listen to our previous episodes here: Umberto D. (Vittorio De Sica 1952) Diary of a Chambermaid (Luis Buñuel 1964) The Silence (Ingmar Bergman 1963) Sources: Renoir, J., & Cardullo, B. (2005). Jean Renoir: Interviews. University Press of Mississippi. Renoir, J., & Denny, N. (2004). My life and my films. Da Capo Press. https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2003/great-directors/renoir/#36 https://www.criterion.com/current/top-10-lists/214-martin-scorsese-s-top-10 https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/357-the-river-a-new-authenticity https://satyajitray.org/encounter-with-jean-renoir/ https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/924-the-river https://www.film-foundation.org/rsr-february-2023

Felicia is joined by John Pennington to discuss how Jean Renoir controlled chaos on the heels of an impending world war in his film The Rules of the Game (1939). We chat about how the blocking and framing is incredibly important in this film, and how collaborating with his actors led to memorable interpretations of his script. This is the series opener and I’m very excited to share this episode with you as it’s one of my all time favourite films and I think a perfectly encapsulation of his work. Send us your thoughts on the episode by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: seeingfacesinmovies@gmail.com Find John here: Letterboxd: @jtothep83 IG: @jtothp83 Listen to our previous episodes here: The Brood (David Cronenberg 1979) Sources: Renoir, J., & Cardullo, B. (2005). Jean Renoir: Interviews. University Press of Mississippi. Renoir, J., & Denny, N. (2004). My life and my films. Da Capo Press. https://www.criterion.com/current/top-10-lists/201-roger-corman-s-top-10 https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/308-the-rules-of-the-game-everyone-has-their-reasons https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/4613-staging-in-jean-renoir-s-the-rules-of-the-game https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/2069-the-rules-of-the-game-tributes https://unaffiliatedcritic.com/2021/01/the-rules-of-the-game-1939/ https://cinemafromthespectrum.com/2016/12/03/the-rules-of-the-game-review/ https://thecinephiliac.com/2015/03/04/rules-of-the-game-1939-and-its-inferiority-as-a-classic/ https://www.asharperfocus.com/rulesof.html https://offscreen.com/view/honor_humanism https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2003/great-directors/renoir/#36

Felicia is joined by Seth Vargas to discuss Arthur C. Miller’s brooding camera as it follows Jimmy Ringo in The Gunfighter (1950). We chat about how the photography complements the stories ticking clock, and why the black and white imagery elevates this cerebral western. This is the final episode in the Arthur C. Miller series and I’m so glad I finally highlighted another cinematographer on the show. I hope you’re inspired to watch more of his work and learn more about his craft. Send us your thoughts on the episode by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: seeingfacesinmovies@gmail.com Find Seth here: Movie Friends Podcast (website) Twitter: @moviefriendspod IG: @moviefriendspodcast YouTube: @moviefriendspodcast Listen to our previous episodes here: Le Bonheur (Agnès Varda 1965) Woman in the Dunes (Hiroshi Teshigahara 1964) Late Spring (Yasujirō Ozu 1949) True Stories (David Byrne 1986) Sources: Balshofer, Balshofer, F. J., & Miller, A. C. (n.d.). One reel a Week. University of California Press. https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/7149-the-gunfighter-you-can-t-go-home-again https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/7151-10-things-i-learned-the-gunfighter https://jeffarnoldswest.com/2023/10/the-gunfighter-fox-1950-2/ https://alexonfilm.com/2023/04/29/the-gunfighter-1950/ https://theasc.com/articles/natural-lighting-for-interior-sets Outro Song: The Gunfighter by Alfred Newman

Felicia is joined by Bryan Loomis to discuss Arthur C. Miller’s imprint on one of cinema’s greatest achievements in cinematography, How Green Was My Valley (1941). We chat about how he understood John Ford’s clear vision for this film and why the black and white imagery adds to the comfort reflected in this family’s story. Send us your thoughts on the episode by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: seeingfacesinmovies@gmail.com Find Bryan here: Website: PODCAST | What a Picture (whatapicturepod.com) What a Picture Podcast: https://anchor.fm/what-a-picture Listen to our previous episodes here: All the President’s Men (D.O.P. Gordon Willis 1976) I Was Born, But… (Yasujirō Ozu 1932) Miracle in Milan (Vittorio De Sica 1951) Sources: Balshofer, Balshofer, F. J., & Miller, A. C. (n.d.). One reel a Week. University of California Press. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/archive/interview/peter-bogdanovich-4/ https://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/2011/05/10/john-fords-how-green-was-my-valley/ https://goldenglobes.com/articles/restored-hfpa-how-green-was-my-valley-1941/ https://moviecrashcourse.com/2019/03/12/how-green-was-my-valley-1941/ https://www.bbc.com/videos/c4nnj5llx66o https://starsandletters.blogspot.com/2024/04/casting-how-green-was-my-valley.html Outro Song: Huw Walks Among the Daffodils by Alfred Newman

In today’s Special Features episode Felicia is joined once again by the amazing Seth Vargas to discuss the way David Byrne celebrates uniqueness in his film True Stories (1986). We chat about the blend of documentary and fiction styles of storytelling, and how great each song is in this musical. Send us your thoughts on the film and let us know by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: seeingfacesinmovies@gmail.com Listen to our previous episodes with Seth here: Le Bonheur (Agnès Varda 1965) Woman in the Dunes (Hiroshi Teshigahara 1964) Late Spring (Yasujirō Ozu 1949) Follow Seth here: Movie Friends Podcast (website) Twitter: @moviefriendspod IG: @moviefriendspodcast YouTube: @moviefriendspodcast Outro Song: Road Song by David Byrne Sources: https://www.filmcomment.com/blog/interview-david-byrne/ https://medium.com/counterarts/david-byrnes-true-stories-as-a-search-for-autistic-connection-43629c62cd07 https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/david-byrne-true-stories-interview-754919/ https://www.davidbyrne.com/explore/american-utopia/press/david-byrne-shares-true-stories-from-1986s-true-stories https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/6068-true-stories-everybody-has-tones

Felicia is joined by Frieda Beckerman to discuss eco activism vs eco terrorism in the eyes of Kelly Reichardt’s Night Moves (2013). We chat about the way she brings characters to life without enforcing too much back story, along with the use of indoor vs. outdoor spaces. Send us your thoughts on the episode by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: seeingfacesinmovies@gmail.com Listen to our previous episodes here: The Green Ray (Éric Rohmer 1986) Sources: https://www.splittoothmedia.com/night-moves/ https://www.standbyformindcontrol.com/2014/09/night-moves-jesse-eisenberg-2013-review/ https://filmmakermagazine.com/86114-why-dont-we-all-go-blow-stuff-up-kelly-reichardt-on-night-moves/ https://fourthreefilm.com/2014/08/night-moves-an-interview-with-writerdirector-kelly-reichardt/ https://anarchistagency.com/margaret-killjoy-night-moves-2013-and-an-interview-with-jonathan-raymond/ https://tribecafilm.com/news/interview-kelly-reichardt-night-moveshttps://wakeupscreening.wordpress.com/recent-interviews/kelly-reichardt-interview-for-night-moves/ https://www.npr.org/2014/06/03/318575932/in-night-moves-filmmaker-dredges-the-tension-that-lives-in-quiet Outro Song: Night Moves by Bob Seger

Felicia is joined by Peter Merriman to discuss the quiet beauty in everyday life through Kelly Reichardt’s Certain Women (2016). We chat about the importance of shooting locations in Reichardt’s films, as well as letting the actor’s faces carry the weight of the story. This is the series opener and I’m very excited to chat about a director whose voice is so distinct and welcome in modern cinema. Send us your thoughts on the episode by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: seeingfacesinmovies@gmail.com Listen to our previous episodes here: The American Friend (D.O.P. Robby Müller) Tokyo Story (Yasujirō Ozu 1953) Peter’s alt Reichardt double bill: First Cow (Kelly Reichardt 2019) Cloud (Kiyoshi Kurosawa 2024) Sources: https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/4941-certain-women-trapped-under-the-big-sky https://www.anothergaze.com/review-certain-women-kelly-reichardt-sophie-mayer/ https://www.theringer.com/2025/10/03/movies/certain-women-best-movies-21st-century https://seventh-row.com/2017/02/10/kelly-reichardt-certain-women-interview/ https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/certain-womens-kelly-reichardt-interview-michelle-williams-laura-dern-kristen-stewart-lily-gladstone-a7615271.html https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/2017/02/142090/certain-women-kelly-reichardt-film-director-interview https://thefilmstage.com/lily-gladstone-talks-certain-women-kelly-reichardts-genius-and-native-american-roles/ https://www.nylon.com/articles/kelly-reichardt-certain-women-interview https://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2017/03/03/certain-women-an-interview-with-director-kelly-reichardt/ Outro Song: The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down by Joan Baez Films Mentioned: The American Friend (Wim Wenders 1977) Tokyo Story (Yasujirō Ozu 1953) Old Joy (Kelly Reichardt 2006) Wendy and Lucy (Kelly Reichardt 2008) Night Moves (Kelly Reichardt 2013) River of Grass (Kelly Reichardt 1994) First Cow (Kelly Reichardt 2019) The Mastermind (Kelly Reichardt 2025) Meek’s Cutoff (Kelly Reichardt 2010) Elephant Man (David Lynch 1980) No Country for Old Men (Joel & Ethan Coen 2007) Chungking Express (Wong Kar-wai 1994) Paris, Texas (Wim Wender 1984) May December (Todd Haynes 2023) Carol (Todd Haynes 2015) Collateral (Michal Mann 2004) Face/Off (John Woo 1997) Cloud (Kiyoshi Kurosawa 2024) Killers of the Flower Moon (Martin Scorsese 2023) Breaking The Waves (Lars von Trier 1996) Desert Hearts (Donna Deitch 1986)

Felicia is joined by Ben Turnbull to talk about the male ego in Douglas Sirk’s Written on the Wind (1956). We chat about the earnest approach Sirk takes to all of his films and specifically a high tense story such as this one. This is the series finale and one of my favourite month’s of the show so far. It was fascinating learning more about Sirk’s life and I hope we encouraged you to seek out more of his work. Send us your thoughts on the episode by sending us a message on any of our social platforms or by email: seeingfacesinmovies@gmail.com Follow Ben Here: The Franchisees Podcast on Spotify: @TheFranchisees Letterboxd: @ben_turnbull Twitter: @FartonFink IG: @benjamin.turnbull Sources: Sirk, D., & Halliday, J. (2018). Sirk on sirk: Conversations with Jon Halliday. Bloomsbury Publishing. https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/7680-written-on-the-wind-no-good-end https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/97-written-on-the-wind https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2005/feature-articles/sirk-2/ https://www.filmcomment.com/article/melodrama-and-the-new-woman/ https://www.filmcomment.com/article/sirkumstantial-evidence/ https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/movie-of-the-week-written-on-the-wind Outro Song: Main Title from Written on the Wind by Frank Skinner Films Mentioned: Saw (Franchise) Interview With a Vampire (Neil Jordan 1994) Queen of the Damned (Michael Rymer 2002) Through a Glass Darkly (Ingmar Bergman 1961) Winter Light (Ingmar Bergman 1963) The Silence (Ingmar Bergman 1963) Dogville (Lars von Trier 2003) Manderlay (Lars von Trier 2005) Imitation of Life (Douglas Sirk 1959) Magnificent Obsession (Douglas Sirk 1954) My Winnipeg (Guy Maddin 2007) There’s Always Tomorrow (Douglas Sirk 1956) Mulholland Drive (David Lynch 2001) Rebel Without a Cause (Nicholas Ray 1955) Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (Rainer Werner Fassbinder 1974) May December (Todd Haynes 2023) The Go-Between (Joseph Losey 1971) Far From Heaven (Todd Haynes 2002) Lured (Douglas Sirk 1947) The Tarnished Angels (Douglas Sirk 1957) Battle Hymn (Douglas Sirk 1957) A Time to Love and a Time to Die (Douglas Sirk 1958) Airplane! (David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams 1980) Lust for Life (Vincente Minnelli 1956) Double Indemnity (Billy Wilder 1944) Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock 1960) The Ascent (Larisa Shepitko 1977) Peyton Place (Mark Robson 1957) Bigger Than Life (Nicholas Ray 1956) Murder By Decree (Bob Clark 1979) Lolita (Stanley Kubrick 1962) What Ever Happened to Baby Jane (Robert Aldrich 1962) What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice? (Lee H. Katzin 1969)