Movies as Mirrors

https://tinyurl.com/idanielblakenetflixpartyJoin our Netflix Party, Saturday April 4th at 7pm MT and watch the 2016 film "I, Daniel Blake" with us! On this episode, we launch a new series called "Milestone Movies," and Alexis Romero Walker introduces us to Ken Loach and Laura Obiols' compelling cinematic representation of poverty.To participate in our screening of "I, Daniel Blake," following the instructions below:Visit www.netflixparty.com and download the free Chrome extension.After adding the extension to your Chrome browser, an "NP" icon will appear in the top righthand corner of your browser window.Make sure you're logged into Netflix in Chrome.On Saturday, April 4th before the screening at 7pm Mountain Time, follow the link above to reach the film.Click the red "NP" icon and "Join the party"!

Benjamin's boys Damon & Cade Thevenin share the 2007 film "Son of Rambow." We make a blanket fort recording studio and talk about the movie's representation of boyhood--play, friends, bullies, family. We share our streaming picks for families during the COVID-19 quarantine. We also ask listeners "What's a movie that that realistically represents the life of a kid?"

Film critic and comedian Eric D. Snider shares the 2015 film "Henry Gamble's Birthday Party" with Benjamin. We talk about the movie's representation of growing up gay in a Christian community and the sexual repression that is often a part of conservative religious cultures. We ask listeners "What's a movie that authentically represents some aspect of your teenage experience?"

Professor and researcher Dr. Sarah Coyne shares the 1995 film "A Little Princess" with Benjamin and guest-host Savannah Keenan-Kroff. We talk about the movie's representation of girlhood, and the roles that 'princess culture' has in children's understandings of gender and self-worth. We ask listeners "Keeping in mind this expanded definition of princess, what are your top 3 'princesses'?"

Actor and comedian Stacey Harkey shares the 2016 film "Moonlight" with Benjamin and guest-host Teilani Leupepetele. We talk about the importance of representing intersectionality onscreen--gender, race, class, and sexuality. We ask listeners "What are portraits of manhood that have made them think about what it means to be a man?"Watch Stacey with JK! Studios and find Teilani on Spotify, and look for them both on tour.Credits:"Vivaldi, The Four Seasons, Spring 1" by Max Richter"Mambo No. 5 (a Little Bit of...)" by Lou BegaIntro by Aidan BayLogo by HabbeninkProducers: Aidan Bay, Liam Howard, Madison Roush

New producer for the pod Madison Roush joins Benjamin for a special episode at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT. We speak with festival goers waiting to see Julie Taymor's film "The Glorias," based on the life of feminist activist Gloria Steinem, about their favorite representations of female empowerment on film and at the festival.

Past guests Camlyn Giddins and Kimball Maw Jensen discuss with Benjamin their favorite moments from Season 1, as well as some picks from cinema of 2019 and the 2010s. The group shares the things they've learned from the show, the films that forwarded issues of representation in movies in 2019 and in the last decade.

Author, activist and humanities scholar George Handley shares the 2011 film "The Tree of Life" with Benjamin and guest-host Camlyn Giddins. We talk about the need for nuanced representations of environmental issues onscreen and the benefits of using an eco-theological approach in telling stories about our relationship with the natural world.

Film director Chantelle Squires shares the 2018 film "On the Basis of Sex" with Benjamin and guest-host Kimball Maw Jensen. We talk about the need for more complex representations of female characters onscreen, as well as the challenges facing female filmmakers. We also discuss our favorite films that combine representations of cultures with fantastical elements.Watch Chantelle's films "Jane & Emma" and "Reserved to Fight" on Amazon Prime, and please support Utah Women in Film & Television (https://www.uwift.org/).

Creator of the podcast Radioland, Sam Burton, shares the 2018 film "Boy, Erased" with Benjamin. We talk about the movie's representations of conversion therapy and the challenges faced by many LGBTQ people from conservative, religious communities. We also share our favorite films based on the lives of the filmmakers.Listen to Radioland at radiolandpodcast.com or your preferred podcast app

Filmmaker Kelyn Ikegami shares the 1986 action-adventure comedy "Big Trouble in Little China" with Benjamin and guest-hosts Brad Barber and Kimball Maw Jensen. We discuss the movie's interesting mix of fantasy, parody and depiction of Asian-Americans and talk about how we can simultaneously enjoy and cringe at movies' representation of culture.

Filmmaker Bobbie Lee shares the recently released film "The Farewell" with Benjamin and guest-host Kimball Maw Jensen. We discuss the movie's representation of Asian American families and the challenge of navigating multiple cultures simultaneously. We ask what do we make movies for if not to understand ourselves and one another better.

Educator and activist Roni Jo Draper shares the 1998 film "Smoke Signals" with Benjamin and guest-host Brad Barber. We discuss how the movie represents the complexities of life on the reservation, the importance of storytelling in native communities, and the need for more indigenous females' perspectives onscreen. We share listener feedback and discuss if there is such a thing as a 'women-centered issue.'

Vietnam veteran Dan Aldridge shares the 2002 film "We Were Soldiers" with Benjamin. We discuss how the movie represents the humanity of those involved in war and how it contrasts from other films about Vietnam. We also talk about the impossibility of representing a decade-long war, involving hundreds of thousands of people in a single film. We share listener feedback and share our favorite everyday heroines depicted in media.

Guest Hannah Hughes shares the 2017 film "Wind River" with Benjamin. We discuss how the movie addresses sexual violence, as well as its representations of masculinity, and the need for more women-directed-movies that address issues affecting women. We also share listener feedback and talk about our favorite 'fish-out-of-water' stories.

Guest Savannah Keenan-Kroff shares the 2017 film "Wonder Woman" with Benjamin and Max. We discuss the movie's representation of femininity, resisting 'the male gaze,' and the value of depicting both superheroines and everyday heroines onscreen. We also share listener feedback and discuss positive representations of mental health.

Guest Luis Fernando Puente shares the 2014 film "East Side Sushi" with Benjamin. We discuss the movie's representation of Mexican-Americans, the value of 'fish-out-of-water' stories, are and the importance of telling and listening to immigrant stories. We also share listener feedback and discuss the use of comedy to represent social issues.

Guest Ayah Safi shares the 1999 film "Girl, Interrupted" with Benjamin. We discuss the film's depiction of mental illness, along with the treatment and recovery process. Ayah discusses the stigma surrounding mental illness in her home country of Lebanon, and encourages listeners to donate to embracelebanon.org in order to make the nation's first suicide hotline operational 24/7.

Guest Madison shares the 2017 film "Swiss Army Man" with Benjamin and Max. We laugh (a lot) and discuss the how the movie's body horror and potty humor shed some light on issues of sexual shame, body image, love and life. And we talk about the challenge of representing eating disorders onscreen without unintentionally perpetuating the problem.

Guest Camlyn Giddins shares the 1967 film "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" with Benjamin and Max. We discuss depictions of race relations, and Black culture in particular, in film. And we talk about the long tradition of African-American cinema from Oscar Micheaux to Tyler Perry and Jordan Peele, and the necessity of continuing this conversation about race and representation.

Guest Alexis Romero Walker shares the 2017 film "The Shape of Water" with Benjamin. We talk about the importance of representing intersectionality onscreen and the use of monsters in cinema to address issues affecting marginalized communities.

Guest Jenn Nielson shares the 2019 film "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" with Benjamin and Max. We talk about the movie's depictions of science education in African countries, the struggle to promote STEM here and abroad, and the necessity of preparing more female scientists.

Special guest Emily Thevenin shares the 2014 film "Cake" with Benjamin and Max. We talk about the movie's depictions of chronic illness and the challenges that people with chronic pain face, such as finding sufficient support, living with an 'invisible illness, and suicidal ideation.

Guest Elena Bender shares the 2018 film "The Miseducation of Cameron Post" with Benjamin and Max. We talk about the movie's depictions of the LGBTQ community, lesbians in particular, and how society in general and religious communities in particular have interacted with queer peoples past and present.

Guest Colten Ashley shares the 2017 film "Hostiles" with Max and Benjamin. We talk about the movie and the long history of complicated representations of Native Americans in cinema, from the work of director John Ford to more recent films like "The Revenant."

Guest Jesse Baird shares the 2014 film "It Follows" with Max and Benjamin. We talk about the thriller as a metaphor for the experience of being caught in cycles of poverty.

Guest Sharon Swenson shares the 2004 film "Hellboy" with Max and Benjamin. We talk about the movie's depiction of the struggle of walking the line between two contrasting cultures, while not feeling fully accepted by either.

Guest Natalie King shares the 2017 Chilean film "A Fantastic Woman" with Max and Benjamin. We talk about the movie's depiction of transgender people and the challenges they face.

Guest Kimball Maw Jensen shares the 1961 musical comedy "Flower Drum Song" with Max and Benjamin. We talk about the movie's depictions of Chinese and Chinese-American communities, including tensions between cultures, genders, and generations.

Guest Teilani Leaupepetele shares the 1994 New Zealand film "Once Were Warriors" with Benjamin and Max. We talk about the movie's depictions of Maori culture including cultural identity, gender roles, and domestic abuse.