In this episode, we discuss Tsai Ming-liang’s The River, including how Tsai visualizes complex ideas, the reason for Hsiao-Kang's neck pain, and what water represents.  See where The River is available to watch. Supplemental Material: • The River | City Cinematheque • City Without Tears by Jonathan Rosenbaum • Video Essay: "Days Passed" | Lee Kang-Sheng Through the Eyes of Tsai Ming-Liang • Award-Winning Director Tsai Ming-Liang Reveals The Origins of His Cinematic Dream • Filmmaker Tsai...

In this episode, we discuss Sidney J. Furie’s The Entity, including how Carla is disbelieved and dismissed, the disharmony between the film’s sexual assaults and the paranormal climax, and Furie’s use of Dutch angles and the split diopter.  See where The Entity is available to watch. Supplemental Material: • Scream Factory's The Entity Blu-ray • Imprint's Directed by Sidney J. Furie Blu-ray Boxset • Sidney J. Furie: Life and Films by Daniel Kremer (Book) • Portraits: Sidney J. Furie | TIFF...

In this episode, we discuss Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Cure, including how the film differs from traditional mysteries, how Kurosawa depicts violence, and how the filmmaking hypnotizes. See where Cure is available to watch. Supplemental Material: • The Criterion Collection's Cure Blu-ray • Eureka! Masters of Cinema's Cure Blu-ray • Cure on The Criterion Channel • (There Is No) CURE • Cure: Erasure by Chris Fujiwara Additional Audio Sources: • Cure Trailer • Eureka! Masters of Cinema's Cure...

Announcement: Scene by Scene is transitioning to one episode per month. This new release schedule is temporary. More information in the episode.  In this episode, we discuss Ritwik Ghatak’s The Cloud-Capped Star, including the Indian Partition’s influence on Ghatak, Ghatak’s unbalanced compositions, and how Neeta “looking” communicates character information.  See where The Cloud-Capped Star is available to watch. Supplemental Material: • The Criterion Collection's The Cloud-Capped Star...

In this episode, we discuss Edward Yang’s That Day, on the Beach, including the theme of tradition vs modernity, the film’s structure, and the techniques used to transition into flashbacks. Supplemental Material: Nova Media's That Day, on the Beach Blu-ray That Day, on the Beach (Internet Archive) That Day, on the Beach (rarefilmm) Edward Yang (Contemporary Film Directors Series) by John Anderson (Book) That Day, with Edward Yang | PTS Foundation A One and A Two: Edward Yang Retrospective |...

In this episode, we discuss John Cassavetes' Shadows including how the film grew from Cassavetes’ personal experiences, Cassavetes’ use of improvisation, and techniques used to communicate information about characters and their relationship with one another.  See where Shadows is available to watch. Supplemental Material: The Criterion Collection's John Cassavetes: Five Films Blu-ray Cassavetes on Cassavetes (Book) Shadows: Eternal Times Square by Gary Giddins Additional Audio...

Trash Cinema Month is Back! In this episode, we discuss Stephen Chiodo's Killer Klowns from Outer Space, including the killing of dogs in movies, how it compares to 1950s creature features, and the lack of understandable klown motivation. See where Killer Klowns from Outer Space is available to watch. Supplemental Material: Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game Scream Factory's Killer Klowns from Outer Space 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray Chiodo Brothers' Other Work Land of Terror (1967) (Dir....

Trash Cinema Month is Back! In this episode, we discuss David DeCoteau's Nightmare Sisters, including the lack of horror elements, how the film’s short schedule affected the film grammar, and how we found inspiration through the film. See where Nightmare Sisters is available to watch. Supplemental Material: Vinegar Syndrome's Nightmare Sisters Blu-ray Cinema Conversations: David DeCoteau Monster Party (Podcast) | That's Exploitation!!! With David DeCoteau & David Del Valle! Dead for...

In this episode, we discuss Agnès Varda's Cléo from 5 to 7, including how Cléo goes from viewed to viewer, the techniques used to communicate Cléo's change, and how Varda balances fantasy and reality.  See where Cléo from 5 to 7 is available to watch. Supplemental Material: The Criterion Collection's The Complete Films of Agnès Varda Blu-ray Cléo from 5 to 7: Remembrances Cléo from 5 to 7 by Molly Haskell Godmotherly Love by Alexandra Hidalgo A Woman’s Truth by Ginette Vincendeau La Pointe...

In this episode, we discuss Eric Rohmer's Claire's Knee, including how Jerôme’s actions contradict his words, the characters’ lack of maturity, and how the blocking communicates character relationships. See where Claire's Knee is available to watch. Supplemental Material: The Criterion Collection's Six Moral Tales Blu-ray Video Essay: How the French New Wave Changed Cinema Cinema of Our Time with Eric Rohmer Part 1 Cinema of Our Time with Eric Rohmer Part 2 Eric Rohmer Interviews...

In this episode, we discuss Chris Smith's American Movie, including Mark’s performative side, Mark and Mike’s friendship, and the ways we see ourselves in Mark. See where American Movie is available to watch. Supplemental Material: American Movie Blu-ray Coven (Dir. Mark Borchardt) I Blow Up (Dir. Mark Borchardt) Mike Schank's Music Filmmaker Mark Borchardt's Awesome Tour Of Milwaukee (Late Show with David Letterman) Fan Request: Mark Borchardt At Comic-Con (Late Show with David...

In this episode, we discuss Adam Rifkin's Giuseppe Makes a Movie, including Giuseppe’s filmmaking process, how it inspires us, and the importance of documenting a community that no longer exists.  See where Giuseppe Makes a Movie is available to watch. Supplemental Material: Giuseppe Makes a Movie Official Website Cinelicious Pics' Giuseppe Makes a Movie Blu-ray Garbanzo Gas (Film) Giuseppe Andrews' Films Vizual Medium Obzervation (Interview with Giuseppe) Additional Audio Sources: Cabin...

In this episode, we discuss Krzysztof Kieślowski's Three Colors: Red, including its connections to Blue and White, the film's telephone motif, and the way Kieślowski’s camera conveys connection and disconnection. See where Three Colors: Red is available to watch. Supplemental Material: The Criterion Collection's Three Colors Blu-ray Curzon's Three Colours Trilogy 4K Ultra HD Kieślowski on Kieślowski (Book) Krzysztof Kieślowski Interviews (Conversations with Filmmakers Series) (Book) Three...

In this episode, we discuss Krzysztof Kieślowski's Three Colors: White, including the strong opening sequence, its connections to Three Colors: Blue, and whether the film effectively handles the theme of equality. See where Three Colors: White is available to watch. Supplemental Material: The Criterion Collection's Three Colors Blu-ray Curzon's Three Colours Trilogy 4K Ultra HD Kieślowski on Kieślowski (Book) Krzysztof Kieślowski Interviews (Conversations with Filmmakers Series)...

In this episode, we discuss Krzysztof Kieślowski's Three Colors: Blue, including possible interpretations of the film’s abstract moments, the depiction of loss and grief, and Juliette Binoche's internal performance. See where Three Colors: Blue is available to watch. Supplemental Material: The Criterion Collection's Three Colors Blu-ray Curzon's Three Colours Trilogy 4K Ultra HD Kieślowski on Kieślowski (Book) Krzysztof Kieślowski Interviews (Conversations with Filmmakers Series)...

We’re sorry for the delay on this episode, but we hope you enjoy the looser discussion. We’ll be back on March 1st, discussing Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Three Colors: Blue. In this episode, we discuss our favorite films featured on the podcast. We also discuss the best and worst films we watched in 2023, lessons learned, and our 2024 film resolutions. Additional Music from Charlotte Wells' Aftersun. If you'd like to support the show, subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or...

In this episode, we discuss Charles Poekel's Christmas, Again, including Poekel's extensive research, Kentucker Audley's naturalistic performance, and the film's lack of traditional exposition. See where Christmas, Again is available to watch. Supplemental Material: Factory 25's Christmas, Again Blu-ray Christmas, Again Kickstarter Christmas, Again Q&A with Film at Lincoln Center Charles Poekel & Kentucker Audley Interview with No Film School Kentucker Audley, Hannah Gross, &...

This episode features discussion of suicide. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. https://988lifeline.org/ In this episode, we discuss Edson Oda's Nine Days, including multiple interpretations of Will, the questions the story raises, and the film's various editing techniques. See where Nine Days is available to...

In this episode, we discuss Hirokazu Kore-eda's After Life, including the film's documentary aesthetic, how Kore-eda communicates information visually, and the way exposition is made engaging. See where After Life is available to watch. Supplemental Material: The Criterion Collection's After Life Blu-ray BFI's After Life Blu-ray After Life: In Memoriam by Viet Thanh Nguyen On the Novelistic Afterlife of After Life by Hirokazu Kore-eda After Life Press Kit Additional Audio Sources: After...

In this episode, we discuss Neil Marshall's The Descent, including the film’s lighting, the mistakes made in the first act, and whether the creatures help or harm the film.  See where The Descent is available to watch. Supplemental Material: The Descent Blu-ray Additional Audio Sources: The Descent Trailer "The Descent: Beneath the Scenes" on The Descent Blu-ray "DescENDING: Interview with Neil Marshall" on The Descent Blu-ray If you'd like to support the show, subscribe to the podcast...

In this episode, we discuss John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness, including the screenplay's missteps, the effective use of insects, and Carpenter's visual techniques. See where Prince of Darkness is available to watch. Supplemental Material: Scream Factory's Prince of Darkness Blu-ray John Carpenter on Managing to "Survive" Hollywood (Variety Interview) Additional Audio Sources: Prince of Darkness Trailer Scream Factory's Prince of Darkness Blu-ray John Carpenter Interview with BBC If...

In this episode, we discuss Trey Edward Shults' It Comes at Night, including the film's marketing, our interpretations of "it", and the film's use of traditional horror conventions and iconography. See where It Comes at Night is available to watch. Supplemental Material: It Comes at Night Blu-ray Anatomy of a Scene: Trey Edward Shults Narrates a Scene From ‘It Comes at Night’ Trey Edward Shults & Cast Interview with BUILD Series It Comes at Night DP Drew Daniels on New Lenses, Old Dogs...

In this episode, we discuss Andrzej Żuławski’s Possession, including our interpretations of the film's creature and doppelgängers, the expressive actor blocking, and the abrasive (yet successful) performances. See where Possession is available to watch. Supplemental Material: Mondo Vision's Possession Blu-ray Additional Audio Sources: Possession Official Trailer Mondo Vision's Possession Blu-ray Audio Commentary on Mondo Vision's Possession Blu-ray "The Other Side of the Wall" on Mondo...

In this episode, we discuss Charlie Kaufman’s Synecdoche, New York, including the lack of subtlety, the execution of numerous themes and ideas, and whether the film encapsulates the human experience.  See where Synecdoche, New York is available to watch. Supplemental Material: Synecdoche, New York Blu-ray Charlie Kaufman | BAFTA Screenwriters’ Lecture Series Charlie Kaufman Interview with WGA West Charlie Kaufman and Catherine Keener Interview with movieweb Charlie Kaufman Interview with...