Trylove

Jean-François Laguionie’s GWEN AND THE BOOK OF SAND is maybe a little too strange to fully understand, but its juxtapositions and style leave help it get so much more from its 67 minutes than a lot of full-length features can manage. A young girl named Gwen joins a tribe of desert nomads in a world littered with gigantic, recognizably earth-bound objects. Gwen falls in love with Nokmoon, a boy whose strange powers get him abducted by the ethereal creature that prowls the dunes by night. Gwen and Rosaline, the tribe’s matriarch, set out across the uncharted wastes to bring back the young boy. In this episode — our last on the Trylon’s series on ‘80s animated sci-fi/fantasy, we gush over gouache, ponder the meaning of finding meaning in a story as abstruse as this one, and play a game where we try to guess what game Cody’s even trying to get us to play. Give to these causes in need during ICE’s occupation of Minnesota: Support Minnesotans defending their communities from ICE: https://www.standwithminnesota.com/ @sanctuarysupplydepot: Mutual aid group in Mpls getting basic necessities to our houseless neighbors https://linktr.ee/sanctuarysupplydepot @mplsmutualaid: Clearinghouse of mutual aid for our neighbors: https://linktr.ee/mplsmutualaid ISAIAH, an interfaith group fighting for racial and economic justice in MN: https://secure.everyaction.com/G8TCnxFlE0qd9zlUEYjjeg2 Show love to North Minneapolis families in crisis: https://www.gofundme.com/f/show-love-to-north-minneapolis-families-in-crisis References: “Episode Ten: Gwen and the Book of Sand/Signals/In the Dust of the Stars” from the Official Deaf Crocodile Podcast Check the calendar, preview upcoming series, and buy tickets Contribute to Perisphere, the Trylon blog #TheArtofInsurgence80sAnimatedSciFantasy #DCP Follow us on Twitter at @trylovepodcast, Bluesky at @trylovepodca.st, and email us at trylovepodcast@gmail.com to get in touch! Show art by Emily Csuy. Theme: "Raindrops" by Huma-Huma/"No Smoking" PSA by John Waters. Outro by Pierre Alrand from the GWEN AND THE BOOK OF SAND soundtrack. Timestamps 0:00 - Episode 371: GWEN AND THE BOOK OF SAND (1985) 2:27 - Aaron's sunglasses 6:32 - The Patented Aaron Grossman Summary 9:56 - A truly unique work of animation 25:41 - The departure for the city 37:39 - Gwen and Rosalie 43:16 - Post-consumerism, identity, masking, etc. 57:39 - Nokmoon’s dreams 1:00:54 - The interpolation of live-action and animation styles 1:09:37 - The best images 1:17:47 - The Junk Drawer 1:21:40 - To All the Loves We’ve Tried Before: 1985 1:27:50 - Cody’s Noteys: Gwen’s Picnic (we try to guess the rules of the game Cody makes us play)

René Laloux’s planet-hopping animated sci-fi adventure — no, not THAT one! — is in two places at once. THE TIME MASTERS wanders very Frenchly through its plot: An orphan needs saving on a weird planet, but our protagonists spend way more time witnessing the world (and freeing some mind-slaves on a completely separate planet) than worrying about the boy. But it comes across as such a genuine, heartfelt tale of camaraderie and creative vision that it doesn’t much matter. In this episode, we discuss all the Guys in THE TIME MASTERS, the art of Mœbius (Jean Giraud), and how time travel factors in before seeing how well we can guess the runtime of movies we’ve covered on this podcast. Give to these causes in need during ICE’s occupation of Minnesota: @sanctuarysupplydepot: Mutual aid group in Mpls getting basic necessities to our houseless neighbors https://linktr.ee/sanctuarysupplydepot Support Minnesotans defending their communities from ICE: https://www.standwithminnesota.com/ @mplsmutualaid: Clearinghouse of mutual aid for our neighbors: https://linktr.ee/mplsmutualaid ISAIAH, an interfaith group fighting for racial and economic justice in MN: https://secure.everyaction.com/G8TCnxFlE0qd9zlUEYjjeg2 Show love to North Minneapolis families in crisis: https://www.gofundme.com/f/show-love-to-north-minneapolis-families-in-crisis References: Trylove Episode 31: FANTASTIC PLANET (1973) Give to the Trylon’s Film Forever Fund so they never have to increase ticket prices! Check the calendar, preview upcoming series, and buy tickets Contribute to Perisphere, the Trylon blog #TheArtofInsurgence80sAnimatedSciFantasy #DCP Follow us on Twitter at @trylovepodcast, Bluesky at @trylovepodca.st, and email us at trylovepodcast@gmail.com to get in touch! Show art by Emily Csuy. Theme: "Raindrops" by Huma-Huma/"No Smoking" PSA by John Waters. Outro: “Lamprey Guzzlers” from THE TIME MASTERS. Timestamps 0:00 - Episode 369: THE TIME MASTERS (1982) 2:44 - The Patented Aaron Grossman Summary 5:09 - The style and substance of Mobius in an animated feature 12:13 - Seeing this one at the Trylon 17:30 - What happens when your reach exceeds your grasp 28:15 - Why this movie NEEDS to be animation 37:11 - Richness despite a meandering plot 44:51 - Adapting Stefan Wul 47:09 - How successful is the time twist? 59:20 - The Junk Drawer 1:06:17 - To All the Loves We’ve Tried Before: 1982 1:13:49 - Cody’s Noteys: Runtime Masters (guessing the runtime of movies we’ve covered)

With Seth Zarate! It’s hard to overstate the importance of NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND to the Japanese animation medium, not least of which because it led to the launch of Studio Ghibli, one of its most influential producers. But it’s maybe more interesting to consider as an ur text for its creator and his proclivities: In a time of conflict between human civilization and the natural world, a strong heroine risks her life to bridge the two and bring balance. If that sounds familiar in the context of Studio Ghibli’s work, it should! On this episode, we discuss seeing the film on an original 1984 print, comparisons to other Studio Ghibli films and Miyazaki’s sprawling Nausicaä manga, the optimism that defines NAUSICAÄ, Seth’s ranking of Ghibli movies, and our favorite little Miyazaki-isms. Then we play a trivia game based on looking at pictures of American actress Halle Berry. Podcasting is immensely difficult work. Find Seth… On Bluesky at snzarate.bsky.social On Letterboxd at @snzarate On Trylove episodes about THE FIFTH ELEMENT (1997), 12 MONKEYS (1995), TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. (1985), A GOOFY MOVIE (1995) Table Read, TIME BANDITS (1981), THE FACULTY (1998), THE SACRIFICE (1986), RUMBLE IN THE BRONX (1995), Horrorthon V: Son of Horrorthon (2021), BATMAN RETURNS (1992), TOKYO GODFATHERS (2003), THE CONVERSATION (1974), IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934), LOOPER (2012), ASTEROID CITY/DIAL OF DESTINY/DEAD RECKONING/BARBIE/OPPENHEIMER (2023), THE CARS THAT ATE PARIS (1974), RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983) Give to these causes in need during ICE’s occupation of Minnesota: @sanctuarysupplydepot: Mutual aid group in Mpls getting basic necessities to our houseless neighbors https://linktr.ee/sanctuarysupplydepot Support Minnesotans defending their communities from ICE: https://www.standwithminnesota.com/ @mplsmutualaid: Clearinghouse of mutual aid for our neighbors: https://linktr.ee/mplsmutualaid ISAIAH, an interfaith group fighting for racial and economic justice in MN: https://secure.everyaction.com/G8TCnxFlE0qd9zlUEYjjeg2 Show love to North Minneapolis families in crisis: https://www.gofundme.com/f/show-love-to-north-minneapolis-families-in-crisis References: Trylove Episode 133: KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE (1989) (feat. Charlie Mackin) “Gone with the Wind Rider: Shintoism in Hayao Miyazaki’s Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” by Lars Johnson for Perisphere, the Trylon blog ”Don’t Stomp On Bugs” by Noah Frazier for Perisphere, the Trylon blog Give to the Trylon’s Film Forever Fund so they never have to increase ticket prices! Check the calendar, preview upcoming series, and buy tickets Contribute to Perisphere, the Trylon blog #TheArtofInsurgence80sAnimatedSciFantasy #35mm Follow us on Twitter at @trylovepodcast, Bluesky at @trylovepodca.st, and email us at trylovepodcast@gmail.com to get in touch! Show art by Emily Csuy. Theme: "Raindrops" by Huma-Huma/"No Smoking" PSA by John Waters. Outro: “Nausicaä's Requiem” by Joe Hisaishi featuring Mai Fujisawa from the NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND soundtrack. Timestamps 0:00 - Episode 368: NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND (1984) with Seth Zarate 2:10 - An update on Lucchese-Soto, et al. v. The Criterion Collection, LLC 6:03 - The Patented Aaron Grossman Summary 7:21 - Seth’s thoughts 10:10 - The Hayao Miyazaki ur text 19:06 - Our experiences with NAUSICAÄ 24:00 - Building Nausicaä through the reactions of others 34:41 - Is the NAUSICAÄ manga Miyazaki’s best work? 40:43 - Seth’s Ghibli ranking 46:32 - Optimism and relationships between worlds in NAUSICAÄ vs. MONONOKE 58:23 - A few of our favorite of Miyazaki’s favorite things 1:09:40 - The Junk Drawer 1:18:04 - To All the Loves We’ve Tried Before: 1984 1:24:01 - Cody’s Noteys: Plausibly, This is Halle When She Grinned (trivia about Halle Berry photographs)

It’s almost trite to say Kazuo Hara’s second documentary ‘crosses boundaries,’ since every documentary is on some level about the fact that it’s a documentary — forcing you to consider the author, the subject, and yourself as participants in the documentation. That said, EXTREME PRIVATE EROS: LOVE SONG 1974 is remarkably intimate, covering the years following the director’s breakup with Miyuki Takeda as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery. As they both chart new courses in life — him with his new girlfriend and fellow filmmaker, Sachiko Kobayashi; her exploring sexuality, taboo relationships, parenthood, and many forms of self-expression — they remain the shared subject of a film so personal, so volatile, that it’s almost violent. Give to these causes in need during ICE’s occupation of Minnesota: @sanctuarysupplydepot: Mutual aid group in Mpls getting basic necessities to our houseless neighbors https://linktr.ee/sanctuarysupplydepot Support Minnesotans defending their communities from ICE: https://www.standwithminnesota.com/ @mplsmutualaid: Clearinghouse of mutual aid for our neighbors: https://linktr.ee/mplsmutualaid ISAIAH, an interfaith group fighting for racial and economic justice in MN: https://secure.everyaction.com/G8TCnxFlE0qd9zlUEYjjeg2 Show love to North Minneapolis families in crisis: https://www.gofundme.com/f/show-love-to-north-minneapolis-families-in-crisis References: “Okinawa, Baby: Exploration, Exes, & Extreme Private Eros” by Chelli Riddiough for Perisphere, the Trylon blog “Give to the Trylon’s Film Forever Fund so they never have to increase ticket prices! Check the calendar, preview upcoming series, and buy tickets Contribute to Perisphere, the Trylon blog #TheUndiscoveredGeniusOfKazuoHara #DCP Follow us on Twitter at @trylovepodcast, Bluesky at @trylovepodca.st, and email us at trylovepodcast@gmail.com to get in touch! Show art by Emily Csuy. Theme: "Raindrops" by Huma-Huma/"No Smoking" PSA by John Waters. Outro: “I Gotcha” by Joe Tex as heard in EXTREME PRIVATE EROS: LOVE SONG 1974. Timestamps 0:00 - Episode 366: EXTREME PRIVATE EROS: LOVE SONG 1974 (1974) 2:28 - The Patented Aaron Grossman Summary 3:35 - Aaron doesn’t like documentaries 12:51 - The work of Kazuo Hara 19:43 - The “point” of documentaries 24:07 - “Narrativerite” and a sense of “antagonism” 34:25 - Miyuki Takeda 41:35 - “Violence” and the “peaks” that end up on film 48:37 - LOVE SONG 1974 as a breakup movie 56:57 - How Miyuki is presented to the audience 1:05:07 - The Junk Drawer 1:12:23 - To All the Loves We’ve Tried Before: 1974 1:24:22 - Cody’s Noteys: The House of Champions: 1974 (a bracket to choose the best film of 1974)

The Trylon’s series on Federico Fellini kicked off with his seminal film 8½, and it’s a hell of a way to start Trylove’s 2026! A hailed director struggles to find the determination to see his latest movie through to the end, instead spending most of his time daydreaming about his past, his present, and the various women who float through them. Then, the movie zooms out to depict THAT story as a movie production directed by the same guy, complete with its own writers, producers, critics, and cast. Whoa! It’s kinda silly in a fun way, and it’s a pretty neat trick, especially for 1963 — but does it hold up today? Or is it a bit too clever for its own good? We’ve actually rather divided on this one, and for several different reasons! Do you expect anything less? References: “The Burnt-Out Artist and the Truth: Federico Fellini’s 8½” by Dan McCabe for Perisphere, the Trylon blog "Italy Bans Films Shown at Venice" in Variety, September 1963 “Give to the Trylon’s Film Forever Fund so they never have to increase ticket prices! Check the calendar, preview upcoming series, and buy tickets Contribute to Perisphere, the Trylon blog #FelliniInBlackAndWhite #35mm Follow us on Twitter at @trylovepodcast, Bluesky at @trylovepodca.st, and email us at trylovepodcast@gmail.com to get in touch! Show art by Emily Csuy. Theme: "Raindrops" by Huma-Huma/"No Smoking" PSA by John Waters. Timestamps 0:00 - Episode 364: 8½ (1963) 3:33 - The Patented Aaron Grossman Summary 5:57 - Our unique viewing experiences 16:30 - Tight directing, loose storytelling 35:57 - The ending 43:58 - What strings you along? 54:05 - Saraghina, the dancer on the beach 1:01:17 - Guido’s hero/martyr complex 1:06:14 - The Junk Drawer 1:12:43 - To All the Loves We’ve Tried Before: 1963 1:14:29 - Cody’s Noteys: 2026 Movie Resolutions

A retread of GOODFELLAS (1990) or a nastier, meaner take on a life of crime? Our discussion (a rare in-person recording of CASINO looks inward, at the performances, embarrassments, and broken hearts that define it, and outward, at how this movie left its mark on the middle period of director Martin Scorsese’s career — and gave Sharon Stone what might be her best film role. References: “NERVOUS IN THE DESERT: Elizabeth Street alienation in Martin Scorsese’s Casino” by Ben Tuthil for Perisphere, the Trylon blog Trylove Episode 294: GOODFELLAS (1990) with Dan Nagan Trylove Episode 178: BRINGING OUT THE DEAD (1999) with Charlie Mackin Trylove Episode 76: AFTER HOURS (1985) “Give to the Trylon’s Film Forever Fund so they never have to increase ticket prices! Check the calendar, preview upcoming series, and buy tickets Contribute to Perisphere, the Trylon blog #SharonStoneDoesn’tCareWhatYouThink #35mm Follow us on Twitter at @trylovepodcast, Bluesky at @trylovepodca.st, and email us at trylovepodcast@gmail.com to get in touch! Show art by Emily Csuy. Theme: "Raindrops" by Huma-Huma/"No Smoking" PSA by John Waters. Outro music: You know this one and I don’t wanna get in trouble.

Content warning: This discussion includes references to sexual violence. BASIC INSTINCT superfan and longtime Trylon volunteer Kelly Krantz says it is “THE erotic thriller.” And she’s probably right! But what makes the tale of Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone) and her quarry, Nick Curran (Michael Douglas), the ultimate in a genre defined by extremes and titillating taboo? We’re here to find out! Our discussion digs into the essential Paul Verhoeven-ness of BASIC INSTINCT, the true motivations of the two headstrong leads, who’s really the victim in their psychosexual mind games, and then close with some skunk trivia (in fitting with a “you know it smells crazy in there” motif). Find Kelly… On Twitter at @kransekage_ On Letterboxd at @luckyhoss On Trylove episodes: WINGS OF DESIRE (1987), ARREBATO (1979), PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE (1974), REVOLVER (1973), THE DOOM GENERATION (1995), THE NIGHT PORTER (1974), REMEMBER MY NAME (1978), PLAY IT AS IT LAYS (1972), OUTLAND (1981) References: “Male Hysteria; or, Fear of Magna Cum Laude Pussy” by Devin Bee for Perisphere, the Trylon blog Basic Instinct (Erotic 90’s, Part 6) (May 1, 2023) by You Must Remember This WE KILL FOR LOVE (2023) on Vinegar Syndrome The Wikipedia page for “Ice pick” Give to the Trylon’s Film Forever Fund so they never have to increase ticket prices! Check the calendar, preview upcoming series, and buy tickets Contribute to Perisphere, the Trylon blog #SharonStoneDoesn’tCareWhatYouThink #DCP Follow us on Twitter at @trylovepodcast, Bluesky at @trylovepodca.st, and email us at trylovepodcast@gmail.com to get in touch! Show art by Emily Csuy. Theme: "Raindrops" by Huma-Huma/"No Smoking" PSA by John Waters. Outro music: “Main Theme” composed by Jerry Goldsmith from the BASIC INSTINCT soundtrack. Timestamps 0:00 - Episode 360: BASIC INSTINCT (1992) 2:58 - The episode actually starts 6:56 - The Patented Aaron Grossman Summary 10:20 - Background on the erotic thriller 16:14 - A metatextual take on erotic thrillers 20:23 - Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone 26:39 - Catherine Tramell “wants to be proven wrong” 37:40 - What does Nick Curran actually want? 41:55 - The Activation of Nick Curran 45:45 - Does Nick want to BECOME Catherine? 52:57 - How this movie plays with the femme fatale trope 59:58 - Beth, the victim of two different lovers 1:08:25 - The Junk Drawer 1:27:40 - To All the Loves We’ve Tried Before: 1992 1:34:22 - Cody’s Noteys: Ba-Skunk In-Stink (skunk trivia)

With Kris Montello! Just as star student Yuka (Hiroko Yakushimaru) awakens to her otherworldly powers (and her feelings for kendo athlete Koji [Ryôichi Takayanagi]), Venusian imperialist Kyogoku (Toru Minegishi) issues an ultimatum: Use her powers to force the universe into conformity and order or be flattened with the rest of it. When Yuka refuses the call, Kyogoku instead enlists transfer student Michiru (Masami Hasegawa) and begins his conquest with the student body at Yuka’s school. It goes without saying that SCHOOL IN THE CROSSHAIRS is a visual feast. But no matter how ‘out there’ it gets, inside every Nobuhiko Ōbayashi film is an incredibly human heart animating its zanier flair. That’s what we’re here for! Find Kris… At krismontello.com On Letterboxd at DHCKris On Twitter at kris_montello On Bluesky at krismontello.bsky.social At the the Asian-American International Film Festival On Trylove episodes about SAMURAI REINCARNATION (1981), AN AUTUMN AFTERNOON (1962) References: “Anti-Fascist, All Fun: Disobedient Whimsy in Nobuhiko Ôbayashi’s School in the Crosshairs” by Chris Polley for Perisphere, the Trylon blog "Memories of Summer," Harry Mackin's essay on HIS MOTORBIKE, HER ISLAND (1986) for Perisphere, the Trylon blog Give to the Trylon’s Film Forever Fund so they never have to increase ticket prices! Check the calendar, preview upcoming series, and buy tickets Contribute to Perisphere, the Trylon blog #TheUntetheredVisionsOfNobuhikoÔbayashi #DCP Follow us on Twitter at @trylovepodcast, Bluesky at @trylovepodca.st, and email us at trylovepodcast@gmail.com to get in touch! Show art by Emily Csuy. Theme: "Raindrops" by Huma-Huma/"No Smoking" PSA by John Waters. Outro music: “I Want to Protect You” by Yumi Matsutoya from the SCHOOL IN THE CROSSHAIRS soundtrack. Timestamps 0:00 - Episode 358: SCHOOL IN THE CROSSHAIRS (1981) 3:40 - The Patented Aaron Grossman Summary 4:37 - Digging deeper on Ōbayashi 11:16 - Where Ōbayashi’s tendencies show in SCHOOL IN THE CROSSHAIRS 22:21 - The world of the young and the world of the old 31:37 - What if you could control your growth? 44:14 - Yuka’s struggles with her new powers 50:26 - The second act 58:10 - The craft 1:03:17 - Ōbayashi’s oeuvre 1:15:50 - What Ōbayashi wanted us to understand about the future 1:18:10 - The Junk Drawer 1:23:51 - To All the Loves We’ve Tried Before: 1981 1:31:53 - Cody’s Noteys: Trying Down the Love (trivia for movies with five-syllable titles)