Moving Histories

Moving Histories

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Join film professors Kim Nelson, Robert Burgoyne, and John Trafton as they explore the films that connect us with the past.Edited by Nick Hector, BFE CCE Music by Nine Inch Nails Ghosts I-IV, Creative Commons BY-NC-SA license

John Trafton, Kim Nelson, and Robert Burgoyne


    • Jun 11, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 49m AVG DURATION
    • 21 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Moving Histories

    The Seed of the Sacred Fig

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2025 54:12


    In this episode, we are joined by UC Irvine Professor of Anthropology Roxanne Varzi for a discussion of The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Mohammed Rasoulof, 2024). 

    20th Episode Bonus: Sinners

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2025 51:10


    For our bonus 20th episode, we discuss Ryan Coogler's vampire/historical hybrid film Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfield, and Miles Caton. 

    I'm Still Here

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 48:21


    In this episode, we discuss Walter Salles' new film I'm Still Here, starring Fernanda Torres as Eunice Paiva and set against the backdrop of military dictatorship in Brazil. 

    September 5

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 50:12


    In our latest episode, we discuss Tim Fehlbaum's film September 5, a historical thriller that tells the story of journalists covering the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre. 

    Godzilla Minus One

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 53:39


    We are joined by film scholar Rasmus Greiner (University of Bremen, Germany) for a discussion on Godzilla Minus One (Takashi Yamazaki, 2023). 

    The Brutalist

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 50:27


    In our latest episode, we discuss Brady Corbet's film The Brutalist, a story loosely based on the life of architect Marcel Breuer. 

    A Complete Unknown

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 55:49


    Listen as our hosts discuss James Mangold's biopic about Bob Dylan, A Complete Unknown, starring Timothée Chalamet.

    Gladiator 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2024 48:35


    In this episode, John, Robert, and Kim explore Ridley Scott's sequel to his 2000 masterpiece Gladiator. Listen as they discuss what they saw as the film's strengths and weaknesses in writing a history of the Roman Empire for a new generation of filmgoers. 

    The Moving Histories Symposium

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2024 47:36


    In this episode, we discuss the annual Moving Histories symposium in Windsor Ontario, organized by our own Professor Kim Nelson. Listen as some of the leading scholars of the historical film share how they became interested in studying history-on-film, why it is important to learn about it, and some recommended viewing and readings for our listeners. 

    Special guest Tim Van Patten

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 43:47


    For this episode, we are joined by Tim Van Patten, the director of television series such as Rome, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, and the recent Apple TV series Franklin, starring Michael Douglas. 

    Franklin

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2024 52:19


    In our latest episode, we discuss the recent Apple Television series Franklin, directed by Tim Van Patten and starring Michael Douglas as Benjamin Franklin.

    The Bikeriders

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2024 44:41


    In this episode we discuss Jeff Nichols' latest film The Bikeriders, based on Danny Lyon's photography and starring Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, and Tom Hardy.  

    Bonus episode: Masters of the Air (with Kirk Saduski)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2024 49:27


    In our bonus episode, we sit down with producer Kirk Saduski to discuss bringing history to life in shows like Masters of the Air, Band of Brothers, The Pacific, Game Change,  and John Adams. 

    Masters of the Air (with special guest Donald L. Miller)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2024 32:54


    In this episode, we sit down with author and historian Donald L. Miller for a discussion on the Apple TV series Masters of the Air. Listen as we discuss how the lives of World War II fighter pilots were brought to life from page to screen.

    Bonus episode: The Writers of Shogun (Maegan Houang and Caillin Puente)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2024 48:41


    For our bonus episode, we sit down with some of the creative team behind the FX series Shogun: writers Maegan Houang and Caillin Puente. Listen as we go behind-the-scenes of the show and explore how the world of 1600s Japan was brought to life in refreshing and exciting ways.  

    Shogun (with special guest Aaron Gerow)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2024 62:07


    In this episode, we are joined by Japanese cinema historian Aaron Gerow to talk about the FX series is a unique example of transnational historical filmmaking for a new generation . This episode was edited by Nick Hector with music from Nine Inch Nails.   

    White House Plumbers

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2024 53:07


    Listen as our hosts dive into the HBO miniseries White House Plumbers, discussing comedy as a way of bringing the past to life. 

    Zone of Interest

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2024 50:11


    Listen as our hosts Kim, Robert, and John discuss Jonathan Glazer's harrowing look at the Holocaust in Zone of Interest. In this episode, we explore the ways that historical films like Glazer's engage with more than just our sense of sight. The film's soundscape shapes the viewer's imagination in a way that collapses time between past and present. 

    Oppenheimer

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2024 50:27


    In this episode, we explore Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer (2023). Listen as we discuss how the film offers a new way of thinking about how movies write history and how  the filmmakers provide a refreshing  take on the  biopic sub-genre.  

    Killers of the Flower Moon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2024 43:18


    In this episode, we explore Martin Scorsese's latest film Killers of the Flower Moon. Listen as we discuss how this film brings a hidden history into the public consciousness and how Scorsese uses film to explore ideas about national identity. Edited by Nick Hector, BFE CCEMusic by Nine Inch Nails Ghosts I-IV, Creative Commons BY-NC-SA license

    Napoleon (Ridley Scott, 2023)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2023 47:39


    For our first episode, we dive into Ridley Scott's new film Napoleon. Listen as we discuss its characters, visuals, and effectiveness as historical biopic. Edited by Nick Hector, BFE CCEMusic by Nine Inch Nails Ghosts I-IV, Creative Commons BY-NC-SA license

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