MRAC Film Club

Episode 86 - For the our second plate of the Korean-Style Wedding Buffet of Korean Genre Film we are going light with a Rom-Com as the main feature. We don't venture into the Rom-Com genre often, but we are branching out this month and watching the pinnacle of the Korean Rom-Com genre with My Sassy Girl (2001). My Sassy Girl was based on a real-life anonymous online blog written by a buy about his girlfriend. The boy, a college student, in this is named Gyeon-Woo, and after saving a drink girl on the subway he stumbles into a relationship with her. And she is quite the sassy girl. We also spend time discussing another comedy called Like a Virgin (2006) which follows the young trans character Dong-Gu who joins the school Sirrum (Korean wrestling) team to win the money in a tournament to get a sex change.We packed a lot into this one so tune in and join the party.And email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 85 - Pack your bags. We are headed once again to South Korea. The title of this month is "A Korean-style Wedding Buffet of Korean Genre Film." The concept is rather than focusing on one director of genre of Korean film, we are offering up a buffet of different genres featuring one genre per week, with each film being released between 2001-2010. The first course is an action/suspense thriller The Chaser (2008). The Chaser was based on a real life serial killer and features a former cop / current pimp who goes searching for one of his girls who goes missing, and a suspense filled chase ensues. This film has action, suspense, and some signature Korean brutality on film. Tune in to hear us break it down.And tune in next week as we dive into Romantic Comedy and watch and discuss My Sassy Girl (2001)email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 84 - This is our last week in captivity until we are set free. And much like the titular character in this week's film, Papillon (1973), we will be... floating out of captivity in a sack of coconuts? This week we dive into a classic film starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman. Papillon is a semi-fictional account of the semi-fictional autobiography of Papillon (Steve McQueen) who befriends the character of Degas (Dustin Hoffman), in order escape an island prison. This is an epic conversation around an epic film, which clearly deserves your epic attention. We hope you enjoy.And we hope you tune in next week for "A Korean-style Wedding Buffet of Korean Genre Film.' If anything you should tune in to find out what that means. Email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 83 - Pack your bags because we are headed to the Czech Republic circa 1969 to watch the Larks on a String. This film, set in the 1940's, is about members of the bourgeois society who are forced to work in a scarp metal junkyard. What did these 4 larks think about this film? Tune in to find out.And stay tuned for later this week when the final part of Captivity will be dropping soon when we discuss Papillon (1973). We will also be finding out next month's theme.And as always you can email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 82 - Happy Belated Mother's Day! This is week 2 of Captivity month, and we are celebrating captivity with a double feature of Passenger (1963) and Take Aim at the Police Van. Passenger is an unfinished film that centers around a woman guard and inmates at Auschwitz. Take Aim at the Police Van is a Japanese crime noir that centers around a suspended cop investigating the murder of an inmate being transported. What is the connection? Is there a connection? Tune in the find out.And tune in next week as we watch Larks on s String (1969) straight-out of the Czech Republic.email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 81 - Pack your bags because we are all going to captivity this month. It's a Pete month so you never know what to expect, except that there will be a French film in there somewhere. We get it right away this month with the French 1937 classic film: Le Grand Illusion. This is the first film in a month about the theme of captivity. The film follows a group of French officers and soldiers who are held captive by the Germans during WW1. It is an interesting film which led to some captivating discussions. Tune in to listen And tune in next week as we watch Passenger (1963)And you can always email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 80 - This week is the conclusion of Marco's Catholic Film Month, and in classic MRAC folly, the host watched a different film than the rest of the crew. Three of us watched Love Under the Crucifix (1962), a story that takes place in feudal Japan and features a woman, Gin, who agrees to an arranged marriage even though she is in love with a childhood friend who introduced her to Christianity. You can only guess how this one ends. Even though it seems like this would be the ideal Marco film, he somehow watched something else. Tune in as we discuss this film and describe the plot to Marco.And join us next week as Pete introduces us to his Captivity Month, while we watch and discuss Le Grand Illusion (1937)email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 79 - It is our third week of Catholic film month, and Marco has decreed this week there shall be a double feature. This was to be our Easter special but was delayed due to scheduling issues. But we make up for it by brining you our longest episode to date. We discuss A Man for All Seasons (1966), as well as The Mission (1986). Tune in as we break down these two films and discuss monarchies and the church, missionaries, religion and all that fun stuff. Make sure to join us next week for Love Under the Crucifix (1962), and the reveal by Pete for what we will be watching next month.email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 78 - Happy Easter! On this day we bring you the second week of our Catholic Film Month, hosted by Marco. And what better way to celebrate this holy day than to listen to us break down Francesco (1989), which is the story of St Francis of Assisi who is played by Mickey Rourke. We are sure to go down into a vortex or two so make sure you tune in for all of the religious fun. Next week we will be doing a double feature of A Man for All Seasons (1966), and The Mission (1986), so get an early start on that pregaming.Email: mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 77 - Pack your bags, we're headed to... heaven? Well for week one we are still in Japan, and depending on whether or not you are talking to Marco, it's all the same. Yes, Marco is bringing us a month of Catholic films, and the first one we are watching is Silence (1971) from the director Shinoda. This film is based on a novel which is based on a true story of the persecution of Catholics in feudal Japan, and a foreign priest who is looking for his mentor who went missing. This was remade by Scorcese in 2016 and stars Liam Neeson and Adam Driver, but we are going back to the OG. We went into a bit of a religious vortex so don't miss out on that.and email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 76 - Keep your bags unpacked for the moment because we are still in Japan for the conclusion of Godzilla Month. For this week we watched the latest installment in the Toho Godzilla franchise: Godzilla Minus One (2023). This film was critically and publicly well received and won numerous awards for its blend of creature effects and storytelling about a failed kamikaze pilot right after WW2. But how did it hold up against our standards? Tune in to find out. And then pack your bags for next month, as we are headed to... heaven? Yup, it's Catholic Film Month, brought to us by Marco of course. And another "of course," as we are headed to Japan for our first film: Silence (1971).. Tune in for all the catholic religious fun.And email your thoughts and prayers to mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 75 - It's our 75th episode... which we almost forgot to bring up in the episode because we were so focused on Shin Godzilla (2016). Shin Godzilla is another Japan release and Toho's response to the success of the American Godzilla (2014). It has a unique storyline that sees Godzilla evolve and change from a sea creature to a fully grown Godzilla. The crew is all over the place for this one and can' t find much to agree on. There is talk of the look of Godzilla, the effects, the political storyline, and the heavy amount of subtitles. Tune in for this, and let us know your thoughts. Next week we finish Godzilla month with Godzilla Minus One (2023), and we also find out what Marco is bringing us for next month's theme.email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 74 - It's Godzilla!!... Month, week 3. This week we pack our backs and head back to America to watch Godzilla (2014), the first of the Legendary Godzilla Films. Those of us who watched the correct movie discuss the bold move of killing of the main character and best actor in a film, and also how badass Godzilla and the effects were in this one. Tune in for some light debating and tune in next week to see if everyone watches the correct film: Shin Godzilla (2016).email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 73 - This is our second week of Godzilla talk. Last week we watched the original and this week we jump ahead 30 years to watch The Return of Godzilla, aka Godzilla (1984), a Japanese release that brings Godzilla back to his old terrifying self. There is more talk of how the effects hold up, the human storyline, and Cold War politics. Next week we will jump ahead in time once again to the Legendary release of Godzilla (2014). Join us for the fun.And you can always email your feedback to mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 72 - Pack your bags, we are once again headed back to post WW2 Japan. But this time we are going back to the origins of the longest running film franchise Godzilla, or Gojira. Brian, the Godzilla enthusiast of the group, is leading us on a journey spanning decades to look at 5 different versions of the legendary monster. And what better place to start than at the beginning with Godzilla (1954). Join us as we discuss the pros and cons of this one, including whether or not Godzilla looks like a sock puppet. And make sure to tune in next week when we jump ahead 30 years to watch Godzilla (1984), aka The Return of Godzilla.email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 71 - Strap yourselves in (to a straitjacket ) and get ready for the conclusion of our John Carpenter series with special guest host Chris Bartoli. This week we watch and discuss In the Mouth of Madness (1994) starring Sam Neil, the sneaky horror guy. This is the third of Carpenter's Apocalypse trilogy, which along with The Thing and Prince of Darkness, are all loosely tied to the theme of the end of the world. This is a wild one and we had a lot of fun. Thanks to Chris Bartoli for hosting an awesome month. And at the end Brian introduces our Godzilla month. Next week is the OG 1954 Godzilla. Join us for more antics and analysis.And you can always email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 70 - It's part 3 of our John Carpenter month presented by Chris Bartoli. In going with he theme of some of the lesser known Carpenter films, this week we watch and discuss Starman (1984). Starman is not you average Carpenter, being more Sci-Fi and drama than horror. Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen star in this film about an alien who lands on earth to go on a road trip across America. It may not be horror but it still has a lot of the Carpenter elements and we go down various rabbit holes in our discussion. Join us next week for our final week of Carpenter as we cover In the Mouth of Madness (1994). Brian will also reveal next month's theme. Will we finally do Ernest??? Tune in to find out.And email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 69! - Well, we have made it to that special landmark of 69 episodes, and we are celebrating once again with our special guest host for the month, Chris Bartoli. Chris introduces the gang to The Fog (1980) for week 2 of John Carpenter month. The Fog is a supernatural horror film about a mysterious fog that rolls up onto a coastal town in California. This one came out in Carpenter's prime in the early 80's. Join us for more fun and more praise of one of the masters of horror.Join us next week as well for Starman (1984)and email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 68 - Welcome to an exciting new month here at MRAC. For February we are joined by the winner of the giveaway to host a month. Chris Bartoli chose the theme and films for the month and he went with some of the lesser known John Carpenter films. Week 1 we watch and discuss Assault on Precinct 13 (1976). We all had a blast and dug deep into this one. Chris was a natural member of the crew and fit right in. Join us for the fun.And join us next week as we watch The Fog (1980)email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 66 - This week we pay homage to the late great maker of dreams and nightmares on film, David Lynch. This was recorded on what would have been his 79th birthday on January 20th. We begin the discussion by sharing our favorite Lynch moments from this month, and then break down two of his films that couldn't be more different. Although the majority of the discussion is focused on sharing our thoughts and theories on Lost Highway (1997), we also spend some time discussing The Straight Story (1999). Will we be divided once again, or will Lost Highway be the film that brings us all together? Tune in the find out. And tune in next week as we conclude our Lynch Filmography with Mulholland Drive (2001) and Inland Empire (2006). And you can always email praise and/or complaints to mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 65 - It is with a heavy heart that we release this episode, week 3 of David Lynch Month. The news broke yesterday that David Lynch has passed at the age of 79. Since we recorded this prior to the news breaking, we do not discuss his passing. In fact, there is some more criticism of Lynch as an artist by one of us, since we are still divided on his films (for the most part). But luckily we have the man behind the curtain, Matt, to give more of a perspective from someone who actually studied film. This week it's Wild at Heart (1990), and Twin Peaks Fire Walk With Me (1992) Join us next week as we share our favorite Lynch moments so far, and discuss Lost Highway (1997) and The Straight Story (1999) and email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 64 - This is week two of our David Lynch filmography and we are watching and talking Blue Velvet (1986) and Dune (1984). Although Dune came first chronologically we lead off with Blue Velvet to give it the bulk of the conversation. And although Blue Velvet is considered a classic of Lynch's and a staple in film school curriculum, the crew is divided on this one. This division leads us once again into a vortex. Will we find our way out? Tune in the find out. And tune in next week as we cover Wild at Heart (1990) and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992) email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 63 - Pack your bags as we are heading into the mind of David Lynch. This month we will be doing a 5 week deep dive into the filmography of David Lynch. Since David Lynch has 10 feature films to his name, we will be looking at 2 films per week, but with a main focus on one. We can't promise Pete will watch every one but he'll try. This week the main feature is Lynch's surreal debut film Eraserhead (1977). This is a polarizing film which leaves an impression, but what kind of impression depends on who you are. Where do we land on this? Tune in to find out. We also discuss Lynch's second feature The Elephant Man (1980). A very different film tonally, The Elephant Man is based on a true story of Joseph Merrick and was nominated for 8 Academy Awards. But both films are in black and white! Email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com Next week we dive into Dune (1984) and Blue Velvet (1986)

Episode 62 - This is the part of the year we look forward to more than any other. We but a bow on 2024 and reflect on a year of MRAC by discussing our favorite films, directors, characters, the best kills, practical effects, worst parenting and much more of what we watched this past year. It's always a wild ride so pour yourself a drink and join us for the fun. And coming soon is the first part of David Lynch Month. First up is the cult classic Eraserhead (1977). Stay tuned. email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 61 - Happy Holidays! This week we wrap up the month and the year 2024. It is the fourth and final week of La Banlieue and we spend it watching and discussing Les Miserables (2019). This is another story about life in the projects in the outskirts of Paris, but this one centers on the theme of corruption in the police force. After we break it down we salute Pete for a cohesively curated month, and we find out we will be spending January diving deep into the mind of David Lynch. But before we ge to that, stay tuned soon for our yearly MRAC Film Club Awards, which we do at the end of every year. email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 60 - The week we are out of the classroom and back onto the mean streets of la banlieue, as we watch and discuss Divines (2016), and the supplemental Sherherazade (2018) Divines is a film about a young girl with big dreams to make it big and earn her way out of the projects. We have seen this story before but how does this one differ other than being French? Sheherazade is another interesting one about a young boy also trying to make a living on the streets after being released from juvie. Tune in to hear our full review. And tune in next week as we watch the last film of 2024, Les Miserables (2019), and also find out theme of next month, January of 2025! email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 59 - This week we hit the classroom as we watch and discuss Entre Les Murs (2008), aka The Class. This is a fictionalized story of the French writer, François Bégaudeau, as he attempts to wrangle a group of students from a tough Parisian neighborhood in his literature class.... or as we like to call it, the French Dangerous Minds. Did Bégaudeau do as good of a job as Michelle Phifer? Tune in to find out since we do a heavy critique of his teaching style in this one. And tune in next week as we head back to the projects for Divines (2016). email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 58 - Bonjour! It's a Pete month, which means we are doing something silent and/or French. This month it's the latter as we explore La Banlieue, or the suburbs. All this month we will be looking at the suburbs through the eyes of the French. First up on the docket is La Haine (1995), Enlgish title Hate. This film takes place in the projects outside of Paris in the aftermath of a viloent protest. It was critically acclaimed and won the Palm d'Or at Cannes, but more importantly what did we think of it? Tune in to find out. And tune in next week as we hit the classroom to watch Entre Les Murs (2008) email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 57 - It is an exciting week as 1/2 of us travel to Japan to record the conclusion of our 10 week series on the Japanese New Wave films of the 1960's. Please excuse the audio for this one since Marco and Ragucci were recording from a phone inside of a mini camper van in a parking lot. And while this week's film, The Man Who Left his Will on Film (1970) might not of been everyone's favorite, it was a memorable conclusion to a memorable two months. At the end we break down our top New Wave films, and then Pete introduces next month's theme: La Banlieu (The suburbs) of France. Join us next week for the first film: La Haine (1995) And as always you can email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 56 - Another week, another doozy of a Japanese New Wave film. We watch Eros Plus Massacre (1969), which according to David Desser's book of the same title, encompasses all of the themes we have been exploring in this series. This week and next we wrap up our coverage of the Japanese New Wave by looking at three films that summarize these themes. Join us as we dive in and make sure to join us next week as we wrap up the series and find out what Pete has in store for us in December. Next week: The Man Who Left his Will on Film (1970) email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 55 - This is week 8 of our 10 week deep dive into the Japanese New Wave films of the 1960's. This week we watch and discuss Apart from Life (1970) directed by Kei Kumai. This one is a deep cut of Japanese cinema which covers more in depth the issue of discrimination in post war Japan, an issue that was not often addressed. Apart from Life tackles the issue head on by featuring once again Koreans, but also throws in atomic bomb survivors, catholics and the burakumin. What happens? Tune in to find out. And tune in next week as we cover another doozy: Eros + Massacre (1969) email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 54 - It is week 7 of our 10 week deep dive into the Japanese New Wave films of the 1960's. This week we watch and discuss Death By Hanging (1968), directed by Oshima Nagisa, which explores the topic of Korean discrimination in Post-War Japan. Few films explore this topic of the plight of first generation Koreans in Post-War Japan, and this is a big one. In Death By Hanging a young Korean man survives an execution and the executioners try to figure out what to do with him. Who better to break this down than us. We also watch a short documentary of the same theme called Diary of Yunbogi Boy (1965). Join us for the... fun? An you can alway email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 53 - This month we return once again to Japan. This is part 6 of our two month, 10 part deep dive into the films of the Japanese New Wave films of the 1960's. This week we pick up where we left off last time and explore the sub theme of the representation of women in the Japanese New Wave films. We discuss Onibaba (1964). And who better to explore this theme than 4 middle aged American white dudes. But to add a bit of cache to the crew, Marco is live from a farm in Japan. Join us for the fun. And join us next week for our discussion of Korean discrimination in 1960's Japan when we watch and discuss Death by Hanging (1968). email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 52 - 9, 10... QQ's back again. We are back and just in time to wrap up Halloween. We finish our October coverage of the Elm Street Franchise with Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991), and Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994). And as we have been doing all month, we dive into the definitive Elm St documentary, Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy. Join us for the fun as we wrap up this month and give our overall impressions and rankings. And join us next month as we switch gears and return to the films of The Japanese New Wave. Next up: Onibaba. Email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 51 - One, two, MRAC's coming for you. We continue our Elm Street Franchise review with A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988), and A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child (1989). This is the point of the franchise where many say it started to go down hill. Will these sequels win Marco over? Will Pete stay awake? Tune in to find out. And email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 50 - It's our 50th episode! We celebrate this continuing with our Elm Street Franchise review. We watch and discussed A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985), and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987). One of these is arguably one of the least revered films of the Elm Street Franchise, and one if them is considered to be one of the best. Which one is which and what do we think? Tune in to find out. email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Happy October! And welcome to the start of our review of the Elm Street Franchise. We are going all in this month (well, maybe not Pete) and watching all of the films in the franchise, including the remake and the documentary Never Sleep Again. This week we cover the OG Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) and the 2010 remake. Listen as we share our thoughts and impressions of this iconic franchise. 1, 2, MRAC is coming for you... email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 48 - G'day everyone and greetings from down under. This is our fourth and final week here in Australia watching and discussing Australian Horror, and we end with a bang with Killing Ground (2016). This is a tough watch for some and a must watch for horror fans. Tune in to hear us break it down, and after the discussion Brian reveals our October theme, which will be the Elm St Franchise. So next week we start with the original Nightmare on Elm St (1984). Join us for all the fun, and don't forget about the giveaway! email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 47 - It's Love week! Welcome to part 3 of our continuing coverage of Australian horror. This week we are headed to the suburbs, and once again we watch a film that is based on a true story, although it is not explicitly stated. We watch and discuss Hounds of Love (2016) and the supplemental The Loved Ones (2009). What did QQ think of that dog scene? I think we all know, but tune in for that and lots more. And tune in next week as we wrap up Aussie Horror month with Killing Ground (2016). We will also find out what Brian will be bringing us next month. Email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 46 - Crikey! It is week 2 of our trip down under to talk Australian Horror. The theme this week is horror in the water where we watch and discuss The Reef, a 2010 shark film. We also get bit into the supplemental films, Rogue (2009) and Black Water (2007), both of which are crocodile films. Who will come out of this one alive? Tune in to find out. And tune in next week as we head to Aussie Suburbia for Love Week, as we cover Hounds of Love (2016) and The Loved Ones (2009) email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 45 - Pack your bags because we are heading down under this month to cover Australian Horror. The films we look at this month will explore the theme of setting as character and how the land plays a role in each film. This week we are headed to the outback to watch and discuss Wolf Creek (2005). Wolf Creek is an Australian slasher film and introduced the world to the character of Mick Taylor. Join us as we break it down. And join is next week for horror in the water, when we discuss The Reef (2010). email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 44 - Face/Off (1997) starring Nicholas Cage and John Travolta was a huge blockbuster hit at the time of its release. Does it still hold up? What would it have been like with two different lead actors? Give it a watch and tune in to find out. And tune in next week as we go down under and start a new theme: Aussie Horror. The first film up is Wolf Creek (2005) Nick Cage's face on cats: https://nerdbot.com/2019/09/15/welcome-to-cats-with-nicholas-cages-face/ Email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 43 - We are back at it again with more face action. Pete uncovers a hidden gem with Scalpel (1977), which was originally titled False Face. We discuss the oddity that is this film and get into the weeds as always. Join us for this discussion and tune in next week for the conclusion of About Face month as we watch Face/Off (1997). file all questions comments and complaints to: mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 42 - We had some delays due to scheduling conflicts but Face month continues with our coverage of the French classic Eyes Without a Face (1960)... because no Pete month would be complete without something silent and something French. This film received a negative reaction from film critics in France when it was released but has gone on to become a classic. What do we think about it? More importantly, what does QQ think of it? Tune in to find out. And stay tuned for another episode drop coming soon. Contact us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Episode 41 - It is a new month and a new theme. This month we will be exploring films about face, hosted by Pete. And no Pete month would be complete without a dip into the cinematic past with silent film. This week we watch and discuss The Man Who Laughs (1928). After an introduction to the month, we discuss silent film, remakes and have a few laughs along the way. Join us all month long for some face talk. Next week: Eyes Without A Face (1960) Direct all question, comments and complaints to: mracfilmclub@gmail.com

This is the 5th week of our deep dive into the Japanese New Wave films of the 1960's. This week we tackle another film by Imamura Shohei; The Insect Woman (1963). This one shared a lot of the themes of previous weeks and left us with even more questions about this era in Japanese film. Join us as we break it down, and join us next week as we take a break from Japan. Pete unveils next month's theme of films About Face. Next week: The Man Who Laughs (1928). Email all inquires and complaints to: mracfilmclub@gmail.com

This is part 4 of our 10 part coverage of Japanese New Wave Cinema of the 1960's. This week we cover another Teshigahara film: The Face of Another (1966), and continue the discussion of identity. There was also a guest appearance from a new host, 3D Pete, and there are even talks of making him a permanent host replacing regular Pete. Tune in next week to find out what happens as we watch The Insect Woman (1963) before taking a hiatus from the Japanese New Wave, as 3D Pete reveals next month's theme. Email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

We are plugging away at our deep dive into Japanese New Wave cinema. This week we enter into the theme of Identity and watch Teshigahara's Woman in the Dunes (1964). We also explore more of Imamura with the supplemental The Pornographers (1966). As of late we have been trying to cover way too much in too little time, and this week is no exception. We hope you are keeping up. At the end of this series each of us will be revealing our top 10 Japanese New wave films, and even Pete will have seen 10. Tune in next week as we continue this theme and watch The Face of Another (1966). Email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Welcome to week 2 of our deep dive into Japanese New Wave cinema of the 1960's. This week we continue to explore the themes of youth and ideology, the Japanese film industry and American occupation in post war Japan. Yeah, it is a lot to cover so we went over 2 hours this week. The main film in discussion is Pigs and Battleships (1961) by director Imamura Shohei, and some supplemental discussion of Tokyo Drifter (1966). Pigs, Yakuza and QQ, Oh my! Next week we move onto the theme of identity with Woman in the Dunes (1964). Email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Welcome to the start our 10 week coverage of the Japanese New Wave cinema. Marco and Ragucci are teaming up to host the next two months, where we will be diving into Japan in the 1960's through a series of themes. The theme of the first two weeks is Youth and Ideology. We kick things off by discussing Night and Fog in Japan (1960) and the supplemental viewing, Cruel Story of Youth (1960), both directed by Oshima Nagisa. There is a lot to take in, so sit back, pour some Japanese whiskey and enjoy. Next week we will continue with this theme by watching and discussing Pigs and Battleships (1966) As always you can email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com

Pack your bags, pack lightly and be prepared to never be allowed to come back again because we are heading to North Korea. This week we tap into the not so frequently discussed films of North Korea as Brian introduces us to Pulgasari (1985), as well as the supplemental My Home Village (1949). Tune in to hear us discuss the films along with the incredible real life story of an abducted film director and actress. We couldn't make this up if we tried. We also find out next month's theme, as Marco and Ragucci reveal they are teaming up for a two month long deep dive into the Japanese New Wave of the 1960's. Get ready! Next week: Night and Fog in Japan (1960) email us at mracfilmclub@gmail.com