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PODCAST

Films for Today

Jimmy Bernasconi | 2XXFM

Hosted by Jimmy Bernasconi (‘Sacred Cinema’, ABC Radio), ‘Films for Today’ explores how the art of cinema can help us understand the social, cultural and political issues that currently trouble us. Each week, Jimmy selects a seminal film and contemplates its profound insights into the most pressing challenges of our time. For questions or enquiries about the show, you can reach Jimmy at contact@jimmybernasconi.com or on Instagram by searching ‘filmsfortoday’.

tv & film film history

All Episodes

00:29:00

'Ratatouille' (2007) d. Brad Bird & Jan Pinkava

Films for Today ·

2025/06/01

Is there room for criticism in a postmodern world?Following recent episodes on subjectivity, postmodernism and beauty, this week's episode examines the manifestations of these concepts in the 2007 Disney Pixar film Ratatouille.We also briefly discuss:Inglourious Basterds (2009) d. Quentin TarentinoLicorice Pizza (2021) d. Paul Thomas AndersonContact UsEmail: contact@jimmybernasconi.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/

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00:29:00

'Parthenope' (2024) d. Paolo Sorrentino

Films for Today ·

2025/05/25

Are we content with our treatment of beauty?Following last week's episode, being something of a call to actively seek modern beauty, this week's episode focuses on Paulo Sorrentino's newest film, Parthenope, to reflect on the extent to which 'the beautiful' has been valued in recent times. We also briefly discuss:The Brutalist (2024) d. Brady CorbetAnora (2024) d. Sean BakerContact UsEmail: contact@jimmybernasconi.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/

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00:29:00

'American Beauty' (1999) d. Sam Mendes

Films for Today ·

2025/05/18

How available are our deepest emotions?Following recent episodes on the concept of 'style as substance', this week's episode looks to Sam Mendes' iconic 1999 drama, American Beauty, to contemplate how we can access the epitome of style.We also briefly discuss:Office Space (1999) d. Mike JudgePlaytime (1967) d. Jacques TatiContact UsEmail: contact@jimmybernasconi.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/

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00:29:00

'Withnail & I' (1987) d. Bruce Robinson

Films for Today ·

2025/05/11

How should we navigate subjective experience in a world of "objects"?Following last week's discussion on the utility of idyllic cultural constructs, this week's episode contemplates the ways in which Bruce Robinson's iconic 1987 iconic black comedy, Withnail & I, meditates on identity, essence and subjectivity.Contact UsEmail: contact@jimmybernasconi.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/

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00:29:00

'Hot Fuzz' (2007) d. Edgar Wright

Films for Today ·

2025/05/04

What might be the antidote to fascism?Following past conversations on the inevitable fallibility of attempting to establish idyllic social structures, this week's episode examines how Edgar Wright's 2007 comedy, 'Hot Fuzz' approaches the multifaceted and slippery nature of fascism. We also discuss:The Wicker Man (1973) d. Robin HardyIf (1968) d. Lindsay AndersonContact UsEmail: contact@jimmybernasconi.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/

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00:29:00

'Paterson' (2016) d. Jim Jarmusch

Films for Today ·

2025/04/27

How are we to make sense of artistic ambition?Following recent discussions about Jim Jarmusch's explorations of style as substance, this week's episode focuses on his 2016 film Paterson, starring Adam Driver.We also briefly discuss:Persona (1966) d. Ingmar BergmanPerfect Days (2023) d. Wim WendersContact Usemail: contact@jimmybernasconi.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/

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00:29:00

'Wings of Desire' (1987) d. Wim Wenders

Films for Today ·

2025/04/20

What does it mean to give our true selves to those we love?In response to recent shifts in the cultural view of masculinity, this week's episode looks to Wim Wenders' iconic 1987 romantic fantasy, Wings of Desire, to examine the link between masculine sacrifice and vulnerability.We also briefly discuss:Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) d. Don SiegelThe Truman Show (1998) d. Peter WeirDrive (2011) d. Nicolas Winding RefnContact UsEmail: contact@jimmybernasconi.comInstagram:

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00:29:00

'The Second Act' (2024) d. Quentin Dupieux

Films for Today ·

2025/04/13

Are we on track to see the end to cinema?Following last week's conversations about ecological and economic collapse, this week's episode looks to Quentin Dupieux's latest film The Second Act, to contemplate the possibility of an oncoming cultural collapse.We also briefly discuss:Rubber (2010) d. Quentin DupieuxDeerskin (2019) d. Quentin DupieuxOfficial Competition (2021) (d. Mariano Cohn, Gastón Duprat)Babylon (2022) d. Damien ChazelleContact UsEmail: jimmybernasconi.comInstagram:

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00:29:00

'The End' (2024) d. Joshua Oppenheimer

Films for Today ·

2025/04/06

How dangerous is the romanticisation of modern life?Following last week's critique of romanticising the "simple" life, this week's episode takes a full 180 by contemplating the fallibilities of modern romantics in Joshua Oppenheimer's narrative debut, The End.We also briefly discuss:Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) d. James CameronJoker: Folie à Deux (2024) d. Todd PhillipsContact UsEmail: contact@jimmybernasconi.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/

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00:29:00

'Pather Panchali' (1955) d. Satyajit Ray

Films for Today ·

2025/03/30

How might a simple life constrain us more than we think?Following past discussions on the indifference of nature in the face of mankind's modern ambitions, this week's episode delves into the hidden realities of subsistence living by examining Satyajit Ray's Pather Panchali (1955).We also briefly discuss:Flow (2024) d. Gints ZilbalodisEdge of Tomorrow (2014) d. Doug LimanContact UsEmail: contact@jimmybernasconi.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/

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00:29:00

'The Conversation' (1974) d. Francis Ford Coppola

Films for Today ·

2025/03/23

What is the value of privacy?Given a myriad of topical events, this week's episode focuses on Francis Ford Coppola's exploration of the fine line between agency and intimacy in his 1974 masterpiece, The Conversation.We also briefly discuss:Blow Out (1981) d. Brian de PalmaThe Rule of Jenny Pen (2024) d. James AshcroftContact UsEmail: contact@jimmybernasconi.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/

en

00:29:00

'Malena' (2000) d. Giuseppe Tornatore

Films for Today ·

2025/03/16

What does noble desire look like?Following recent conversations about the virtue of protecting humanity, this week's episode examines how Guiseppe Tornatore's 2000 film, Malena, romanticises the protection of those we desire despite the constraints of the crowd.We also briefly discuss:Crocodile Tears (2024) d. Tumpal TampubolonJojo Rabbit (2019) d. Taika WaititiContact UsEmail: contact@jimmybernasconi.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/

en

00:29:00

'On the Beach' (1959) d. Stanley Kramer

Films for Today ·

2025/03/09

Why should we care about the end of humanity?Following on some recent episodes about macro-level existential threats and micro-level existential dread, this week's episode examines Stanley Kramer's 1959 science fiction film, On the Beach, to contemplate how we might personally relate to the idea of humanity ending.We also briefly discuss:The Edge of the World (1937) d. Michael PowellMiracle Mile (1988) d. Steve De JarnattContact UsEmail: contact@jimmybernasconi.comInstagram:

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00:29:00

'Night on Earth' (1991) d. Jim Jarmusch

Films for Today ·

2025/03/02

How far away are we from transformative experiences?In this week's episode, we examine the power of dialogue in early 90s independent cinema, contemplating how Jim Jarmusch's 1991 classic, Night on Earth, creates substance out of style.We also briefly discuss:The Man from Earth (2007) d. Richard SchenkmanCoffee and Cigarettes (2003) d. Jim JarmuschContact UsEmail: contact@jimmybernasconi.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/

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00:29:00

'Stand By Me' (1986) d. Rob Reiner

Films for Today ·

2025/02/23

Does anyone have a decent chance at life?Following recent conversations about rejecting the three-dimensionality of all human beings, this week's episode examines the impact of death on innocence in Rob Reiner's 1986 coming-of-age classic, Stand By Me.We also briefly discuss:Wild at Heart (1990) d. David LynchContact UsEmail: contact@jimmybernasconi.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/

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00:29:00

'Wallace and Gromit' (Various) d. Nick Park et al

Films for Today ·

2025/02/16

What do we desire in an ideal companion?With the release of the next instalment in Nick Park's Wallace and Gromit film series, this week's episode revisits some central motifs of the original trilogy to contemplate the ideal traits we look for in a companion, be they personal or technological in nature.Contact UsEmail: contact@jimmybernasconi.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/

en

00:29:00

'The Elephant Man' (1980) d. David Lynch

Films for Today ·

2025/02/09

How can we transcend life's inevitable tragedies?In honour of one of cinema's true heroes, this week's episode contemplates three varying interpretations of David Lynch's 1980 masterpiece, The Elephant Man. Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/

en

00:29:00

'Leave Her to Heaven' (1945) d. John M. Stahl

Films for Today ·

2025/02/02

What kinds of people should we open up to? Following recent conversations on confronting the darker parts of our psyche, this week's episode examines John M. Stahl's 1945 noir classic, Leave Her to Heaven to discuss the challenges involved in bearing the deepest parts of ourselves to new companions. We also briefly discuss: Gilda (1946) d. Charles Vidor Laura (1944) d. Otto Preminger and Rouben Mamoulian Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com Instagram:

en

00:29:00

'I Origins' (2014) d. Mike Cahill

Films for Today ·

2025/01/26

What does a true commitment to science really look like?Following on from last week's discussion about seeking deep truths hidden in disconcerting places, this week's episode centres on Mike Cahill's 2014 film, 'I Origins', to contemplate the surprisingly vast purview of scientific enquiry. We also briefly discuss: Wild Strawberries (1957) d. Ingmar Bergman White Noise (2022) d. Noah Baumbach Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com Instagram:

en

00:29:00

'Big Fish' (2003) d. Tim Burton

Films for Today ·

2025/01/19

Should we indulge the egos of our predecessors?Following last week's conversation examining the sometimes fluid power dynamic between the young and old, this week's episode contemplates how wisdom can be extracted from aging generations, even if they see still themselves as the centre of the universe. We also discuss: 'Better Man' (2024) d. Michael Gracy 'The Girl with the Needle' (2024) d. Magnus von Horn Contact Us: E: contact@jimmybernasconi.com Instagram:

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216 results

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