Ep 175: Cinema For Gaza, The Beast and the feminist film that beat Barbie at the Italian box office

In this episode of Girls On Film, Anna Smith talks about the recent Cinema for Gaza auction with two of the women behind the initiative, Helen Simmons and Julia Jackman, and she reviews some imminent releases with film critic Rhianna Dhillon and film journalist and programmer Cici Peng. First up Anna speaks with Rhianna Dhillon about Italian box-office hit C’è ancora domani or There’s Still Tomorrow. They discuss the representation of domestic violence in this neorealist-style debut from Paola Cortellesi, and pick up on the film’s surprisingly hopeful feel. Next up they discuss The Fall Guy, starring Ryan Gosling as a stunt-double and Emily Blunt as a blockbuster director, which is out in UK cinemas on 2 May 2024. A recent auction raised over £260,000 for Medical Aid for Palestinians or MAP, a charity currently working in Gaza to provide immediate medical aid to those in great need. The auction was an initiative led by film critics Hanna Flint, Leila Latif, and Sophie Monks Kaufman who teamed up with publicist Hannah Farr, and filmmakers Julia Jackman and Helen Simmons. Anna talks with Helen and Julia about the initiative, who also share some insights into the highest-earning lots, which included Annie Lennox’s handwritten lyrics to 1983 hit Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This). Finally, Anna is joined by film journalist and programmer Cici Peng, who shares her thoughts on Rose Glass’ Love Lies Bleeding, and Léa Seydoux’s performance in the upcoming film The Beast. Cici also speaks about her recent archival work to create a programme of hidden gems at Queer East Festival, which showcases queer cinema from East and Southeast Asia and its diaspora. Films mentioned in this episode: There’s Still Tomorrow / C'è ancora domani (Paola Cortellesi, 2024) The Fall Guy (David Leitch, 2024) Jungle Cruise (Jaume Collet-Serral, 2021) The Devil Wears Prada (David Frankel, 2006) Ordinary Angels (Jon Gunn, 2024) Hoard (Luna Carmoon, 2024) Abigail (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, 2024) Bonus Track (Julia Jackman, 2024) Love Lies Bleeding (Rose Glass, 2024) The Beast / La bête (Bertrand Bonello, 2024) The River / He liu (Tsai Ming-liang, 1997) Bye Bye Love / Baibai rabu (Isao Fujisawa, 1974) Nezouh (Soudade Kaadan, 2022) You can buy Cinema for Gaza merchandise until 6 May 2024 via the links below: https://www.weareprintsocial.com/campaigns/cinema-for-gaza-2 https://www.weareprintsocial.com/campaigns/cinema-for-gaza Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ or email [email protected] to be signed up Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA production. Host: Anna Smith Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Producer: Charlotte Matheson Audio editor: Elliana Jay Hamer House band: MX Tyrants © HLA Agency