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Girls On Film | Episode 168 | 30 January 2024

Best actress Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone joins Anna to discuss her powerful performance in Martin Scorsese’s American chronicle crime thriller Killers of the Flower Moon, now streaming globally on Apple TV+.

Gladstone’s Mollie Kyle is an Osage Native American, and heir to the oil-rich, Osage-owned land in 1920s Oklahoma that white settlers are desperate to get their hands on. By turns richly emotional and crackling with humour, her nuanced portrayal foregrounds the story of Mollie and her fellow women in the community as an integral part of the film. Making history as the first Native American woman to receive a best actress nomination, Lily’s performance is a powerful testament to the suffering of the Osage women, and their incredible strength in the face of it.

She joined Anna after a screening of the film in Soho’s Ham Yard Hotel, where she shared the depth of her preparation for the role, from spending time with the real Mollie’s family to wearing a 100-year-old Osage blanket as part of her costume. She talks working with Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese – now the most nominated living director in Oscars history. Praising his skill and sensitivity in telling the story of Killers of the Flower Moon, she also makes a call to support Native American filmmakers bringing their own narratives to the screen – and answers questions from our audience.

Mark Kermode Live in 3D | Show 82 | July 2023

On last night’s 82nd MK3D show at the BFI Southbank, Mark welcomed some brilliant guests.

First on stage was legendary producer of over 250 documentaries John Battsek, who has two films out this month: The Deepest Breath, available to stream on Netflix from 19 July, and Wham!, available to stream on Netflix now. John and Mark talked about these two very different narratives and what it takes to make a gripping documentary. John also talked passionately about The Film That Changed His Life, Leon Gast’s When We Were Kings (1996), on the life, sports and politics of Mohammed Ali.

Next to join Mark on stage were much-loved comedienne, writer and producer Sally Phillips, with documentary director Louis Myles, who came to talk about the short film he co-directed with Ahmed Twaij about Brentford’s football team for Down’s Syndrome kids, the Mighty Penguins. Two of the players who feature in the film, Olly Phillips and Charlie Rowley, were on stage to talk about how playing on the football team had changed their life, and what it was like to be in the film. Sally talked about the importance of representation, and various film projects authored by creators with DS, which is changing the landscape for the better, including The Puppet Asylum, and Otto Baxter: Not a F***ing Horror Story. She also talked about her DS-led projects currently in development with Captain Dolly, the in-house production company at Film Soho.

Final guest for the night was maverick director Ben Wheatley, to talk about his upcoming summer blockbuster, Meg 2: The Trench, which hits UK cinemas 4 August, starring Jason Statham and some incredible sea creatures. Ben and Mark had lots of fun talking about the making of the movie, and the diverse traditions on which the film builds, including the writing of Edgar Rice Burroughs, the special effects creator Ray Harryhausen, comics like Hook Jaw, the Japanese Godzilla movie tradition, and a film that especially inspired Ben’s directorial style in his latest feature, Mothra (‘Mosura’, Ishiro Honda, 1961).

We closed the show with Sound & Vision, paying homage to the brilliant use of music in Dream Girls (2006).

All photos by Julie Edwards

Girls On Film | Episode 149 | 31 March 2023

Oscar-nominated actress Emily Watson joins Anna Smith to talk about her new film, God’s Creatures. First up, Wendy Lloyd and Holly Tarquini tell us about their new podcasts. Wendy’s Open To Criticism talks about representation in film criticism; while Holly’s The F-Rated Podcast features discussions with remarkable women in film. They speak about the reasons they launched podcasts, and both give their recommendations for films you can watch now.

Emily Watson then makes her Girls On Film debut to talk about the challenging drama God’s Creatures, and the way it looks at gender and patriarchal society. She discusses the joys of working with two female directors, and her co-star Paul Mescal. She and Anna also look back on some of the highlights of her long and varied career so far, and talk about the industry as a whole. This segment contains discussion of sexual assault.

You can listen to the episode here.

Girls On Film | Episode 95 | 27 October 2021

Anna talks to two of the women who changed the world with their anti-nuclear protests at the Greenham Common Peace Camp in the 1980s. Chris Drake and Rebecca Johnson both camped at Greenham Common for years at a time, and now their stories are being told in Briar March’s new documentary, Mothers of the Revolution. First, Anna discusses this release with two top critics, Corrina Antrobus and Angela Errigo. They discuss how much they knew of Greenham before watching the film, the galvanising spirit of the documentary, and how movements started at our kitchen tables may be the answer to tackling our own issues of the day. This episode considers the passion behind female protest, how it is depicted in the media, and why it is often left undocumented or celebrated, despite its epic history. Anna talks about this with both the critics and Chris Drake, who has some heartfelt words of encouragement for listeners. Chris and Rebecca also recall some spine-tingling memories of the Greenham camp from moments of terror to triumph, horror and humour. Mothers of the Revolution is available now on digital download.

Girls On Film | Episode 87 | 10 August 2021

Dan Stevens plays a lovebot in the new female-directed film I’m Your Man… and there’s a LOT to discuss! First up, critic and author Terri White joins Anna to talk about the unconventional German rom-com. It stars Maren Eggert as a woman who trials a robot (played by Stevens) designed specifically to please her. Terri and Anna debate the genre of this hybrid movie and discuss its central gender flip. They further unpick the complex character of Alma and celebrate Maren’s memorable performance of her.

Next, Anna speaks to the terrific Maren Eggert herself. From working with writer-director Maria Schrader to starring opposite Brit actor Dan Stevens, she shares her experience of making the movie. Which tricky stunt failed to make the cut? What’s it like to perform sex with a robot? And is I’m Your Man a feminist film? Keep listening to find out!

Want to find out more about great German films you can watch here in the UK?
@kinogermanynowuk is a newly launched channel on instagram and facebook, follow now for all the latest news and exclusive content on German film releasing and streaming in the UK and Ireland.

Girls On Film | Episode 61 | 22 January 2021

Join us as we explore Sweden’s Oscar-contender Charter. This moving drama follows Alice as she abducts her two children for a trip to the Canary Islands whilst awaiting the outcome of a custody verdict.

Anna talks to writer-director Amanda Kernell and leading actor Ane Dahl Torp about the film’s themes of divorce, motherhood, and kidnapping. Amanda and Ane also consider the dynamics of working with children and teenagers on set, and recall their first impressions of each other.

Anna then takes a deep dive into the film with critic Hanna Flint. They praise the complex mother-daughter relationship presented on screen and discuss the brilliant karaoke scene. Talking about the complexities of divorce, they make comparisons with Kramer vs Kramer.

Hanna’s movie recommendations: The Mauritanian (2021), Un Prophète (2009).

Other movie mentions: A Few Good Men (1992), The Escape (2017).

Girls On Film | Episode 56 | 1 December 2020

This episode enters the world of stripping, with a focus on the film Hustlers. Anna’s first guest is Grace Barber-Plentie, a freelance film programmer and writer who recently curated a Barbican film event on Reframing the Fat Body. Grace draws our attention to a particular film in her programme that normalises fat pole dancers: Dangerous Curves. This segues into a celebration of Lizzo’s appearance in Hustlers and more generally the brilliant performances of the ensemble cast.

Grace and Anna revere the female friendships presented on screen, particularly between the characters played by Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu. Such strong bonds and respect between female strippers comes to life, as Anna speaks to friends and strippers Chiqui Love and Stacey Clare. As members of the Berlin Strippers Collective and East London Strippers Collective respectively, Chiqui and Stacey talk intersectional feminism, the issues facing the strip club industry, and misrepresentations of sex work on screen. They speak up for sex workers’ rights and envision what Hustlers 2 should look like…

Recommendations… Grace: P-Valley, Small Axe (series). Chiqui: Bombshell. Stacey: Harlots (series), The Deuce (series).

Other mentions: Dangerous Curves (short), 9 to 5, The Wrestler (2008), Showgirls, The Full Monty, Shameless (series).

Girls On Film | Episode 55 | 24 November 2020

Luxor stars Andrea Riseborough as a British aid worker navigating the Egyptian city as she meets her ex-boyfriend and struggles from recent traumas. Writer-director Zeina Durra (The Imperialists Are Still Alive!) and our first ever cinematographer guest Zelmira Gainza chat to Anna about their film. The friends talk Anna through their careers so far, from their Fame-like experiences at NYU, to the challenges they’ve faced as women in executive roles on film sets. Turning to Luxor, Zeina reveals what it was like to work with actor Andrea Riseborough, and Zelmira gives a fascinating insight into her role as DOP.

Delving further into Luxor, Anna and critic Leslie Felperin celebrate how the film creates a sense of place and pulls us in with its mysteries, brilliant performances and playfulness. They then move on to two more new releases. First they discuss the jazzy upcoming family animation Soul and praise Disney-Pixar’s original and earnest storytelling. Finally, they look at the inspiring new documentary I Am Belmaya.

What they’ve been watching… Zeina: Mangrove, The Queen’s Gambit, The Crown. Zelmira: Chaos, Star Wars. Leslie: The Crown, The Undoing, Brave New World, The Nest (2020). Anna: The Third Day.

Other mentions: Fame, The Princess and the Frog (2009), Joanna Hogg’s films, Inside Out.

Girls On Film | Episode 48 | 15 September 2020

Critics and superhero fans Mae Abdulbaki and Allison Shoemaker join our host, Anna Smith, for enthused discussions on two Amazon Prime Video series: The Boys and Stargirl.

Discovering that, ironically, The Boys has a lot to say about its female characters, the critics examine the diverse, kick-ass women of this darkly funny show and praise its Me-Too-era storyline.

Moving onto the more family-friendly Stargirl, they applaud the uplifting, female-centric story that follows three teenage girls as they adopt superhero abilities to fight injustice.

Stay tuned to find out how both shows have interesting relations to Back To The Future II. Beware of minor spoilers.

The critics round up by offering what else they’ve been watching recently, from His Girl Friday (1940) to First Cow (2019).

Mark Kermode Online in 3D | Show 58 | December 2020

For December’s festive special, Mark welcomes Richard Curtis to the screen for an episode dedicated to Love Actually.

Mark and Richard chat about the genesis of the Christmas favourite – the joyful, difficult and autobiographical elements of the storylines – and what Richard would do differently if he were to make the film now.

Hear Richard spill the beans about Hugh Grant and that dance, filming Emma Thompson’s extraordinary scenes, casting a young Thomas Brodie Sangster, and why Colin Firth is always vaguely cross. Watch out for Mark’s version of Laura Linney’s little dance for joy!

Emma Freud joins in to talk about her part in the film and Richard reveals his own top three Christmas films.