Podcast · Film & TV

Deep Cut: A Film Podcast

by Wilson, Ben, and Eli · English · Film & TV

Deep Cut: A Film Podcast is a director-focused film podcast featuring deep-dive discussions about international, art-house, and independent cinema. Each episode we discuss either a director's most popular film or a "Deep Cut Pick": a personal favorite chosen by one of us. We've covered movies from

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 58 min
Latest: 11 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

11 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 1 min

151. Interview with Mary Stephen on Palimpsest: Story of a Name (2026) and editing the films of Éric Rohmer

Following his interview with Mary Stephen at the 50th Hong Kong International Film Festival, Wilson has invited the storied director to return to Deep Cut to discuss her new hybrid documentary feature and her work editing the films of Éric Rohmer. As Palimpsest: Story of a Name garners praise around the international film festival circuit for its sensitive, witty exploration of her family’s history, Stephen dives into a different side of her personal history with the French auteur. Listen in as we ask Stephen’s thoughts on Rohmer’s process with actors on set, the authority Stephen had over…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S5 · E150 · 4 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
150. Éric Rohmer: A Summer’s Tale
Fall in love with three beautiful podcast hosts; fumble the bag with all three. To prepare for our upcoming interview with director Mary Stephen, we study her work editing Éric Rohmer’s A Summer’s Tale . Almost five years following our initial series on the French auteur, have our thoughts changed on his calm naturalism? We compare his work to more recent Deep Cut director Hong Sang-soo, discuss the structure of his scenes, and wonder about how Stephen helped sculpt time in this film. Most importantly: do we really find that pouty French twink hot? Spend your summer break in our FREE…
S5 · E149 · 30 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
149. 64th New York Film Festival (2026) Dispatch; Everytime, The Man I Love, Club Kid, Tender Loving Care and more!
Eli flies in from his foray into his favorite film fest, the 64th installation of the New York Film Festival. It’s a year full of delicate, considerate, humanistic films: Sandra Wollner’s Everytime , Ira Sachs’ The Man I Love , Jordan Firstman’s Club Kid , and Mike Leigh’s Tender Loving Care . Ben and Wilson share their thoughts on two more films in the lineup, Hong Sang-soo’s The Day She Returns , and William Greaves’ Once Upon a Time in Harlem . Also, just for the heck of it, hear what Wilson thinks about Kore-eda Hirokazu’s latest, Look Back . Join the club, kid: find our FREE patreon,…
S5 · E148 · 20 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
148. Paul Verhoeven: Katie Tippel
Before Paul Verhoeven was Hollywood’s pervert-auteur of choice, he was making massive hits in Dutch cinema like this episode’s focus, Katie Tippel . Ben’s main question for this episode: what is Paul Verhoeven’s worldview? To answer, the Deep Cut trio explores the economic and sexual exploitation of Tippel ’s world, the surprisingly modern-feeling period filmmaking, and lots of nudity. Links: Adam Nayman on Katie Tippel Ben’s review of Mahjong Jump rope double dutch style in our FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ www.deepcutpod.com Timestamps: 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:51 Summary,…
S5 · E147 · 6 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 17 min
147. Paul Verhoeven: Basic Instinct
Sex, violence, and metanarrative critiques of the audience! Our series on the films of Dutch auteur Paul Verhoeven begins with several bangs in 1992's Basic Instinct . After getting to know the thrilling perv, Wilson gets grossed out by Michael Douglas, Ben gets enthralled by Sharon Stone, and Eli gets confused about the ending. What big ideas lie beneath this spectacular erotic thriller? Listen on… Interrogate us in our FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ www.deepcutpod.com Timestamps: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:50 Introducing Paul Verhoeven 00:10:00 Moral complexity 00:17:08 Context…
S5 · E146 · 30 Aug 2026 · 54 min
146. Scary Movies XIV Festival Dispatch
Following his conversation with Film at Lincoln Center programmer Maddie Whittle, Eli returns from watching the series she programmed, Scary Movies XIV, to tell Ben and Wilson about fright, fear, thrill, chill… you get it. Stay tuned for Eli’s thoughts on new films Buddy (dir. Casper Kelly) and Something Real (dir. Evar Anvelt) and revival screenings of Cam (dir. Daniel Goldhaber), Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (dir. John McNaughton), and Wendigo (dir. Larry Fessenden), plus exclusive insights from directors during their Q&A sessions. Links: The full slate of films at Scary Movies XIV…
S5 · E145 · 13 Aug 2026 · 25 min
145. Scary Movies XIV: Interview with Festival Programmer Madeline Whittle
Eli sits down with programmer Madeline Whittle to chat about this year’s edition of SCARY MOVIES, which showcases the latest offerings in horror from all around the world. Maddie talks about her relationship with horror films, the process of selecting films for SCARY MOVIES XIV, and previews some of the offerings at the festival! SCARY MOVIES XIV will run from August 12 - 20 at New York City’s Film at Lincoln Center. Links: Film at Lincoln Center: Scary Movies XIV Maddie’s Twitter Spook us in our FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ www.deepcutpod.com Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:45…
S5 · E144 · 9 Aug 2026 · 23 min
144. Interview with Kiyoshi Kurosawa: The Samurai and the Prisoner (2026)
The Deep Cut team reaches a major milestone as Ben and Eli interview Deep Cut canon director Kiyoshi Kurosawa! The Japanese auteur generously answers questions about his latest film, The Samurai and the Prisoner : how does Chiyoho in this film link to Akiko in Cloud ? Are the comedic moments intentional? And Eli finally gets to ask his most burning Kurosawa question: WHY ALL THE PLASTIC SHEETS? Special thank you to Ryanne Gordon, Benkei Golden, and Amaka Nwokocha from Divergent PR and translator, filmmaker, and artist Monika Uchiyama for making this episode possible. Get trapped in our FREE…
S5 · E143 · 9 Aug 2026 · 58 min
143. Kiyoshi Kurosawa: The Samurai and the Prisoner
Deep Cut director Kiyoshi Kurosawa is back with a sharp left turn in The Samurai and the Prisoner : Silence of the Lambs by way of Seven Samurai ! On this Deep Cut Upkeep episode, we return to the director of Cure and Pulse to look for the director’s unnerving tone, restrained direction, societal interrogation, and… matcha-making techniques? Make tea in our FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ www.deepcutpod.com Timestamps: 00:00:00 Intro 00:06:48 General reactions 00:15:20 Kurosawaisms in The Samurai and the Prisoner 00:20:55 Comedy 00:31:05 Chiyoho’s version of Buddhist ideology…
S5 · E142 · 3 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 49 min
142. Christopher Nolan: The Odyssey (featuring Koh Zhi Hao)
Fresh off the opening weekend of Christopher Nolan’s latest blockbuster, the Deep Cut trio welcome friend of the pod Koh Zhi Hao to talk about The Odyssey. Listen to us break down the differences in Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s poem, discuss who gave a bad performance in this, and finally answer the question; Does Chris Nolan make movies for stupid people? Take an odyssey to our FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ www.deepcutpod.com Timestamps: 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:40 Introducing film and Zhi Hao 00:09:59 Formats we saw and general reactions 00:40:35 Context and favorite moments…
S5 · E141 · 26 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 18 min
141. Christopher Nolan: Tenet (featuring Thanmye Lagudu)
Deep Cut welcomes back dear friend and frequent guest Thanmye Lagudu to share his love for Indian filmmaker Christopher Nolan (iykyk) and his twisty Tenet . Listen as we all get a headache trying to make sense of Nolan’s (overly?) complicated plot: protagonists, time travel, character archetypes, race, temporal sphincters, and Nolan’s new collaborators in Jennifer Lame and Ludwig Göransson, and Robert Pattinson abound. And listen to the very end for an easter egg… www.deepcutpod.com our socials and discord server with our FREE patreon go there Timestamps: 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:56 Introducing…
S5 · E140 · 12 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 27 min
140. Christopher Nolan: Interstellar (Featuring Isadora Neves Marques)
“MURPH! MUUUURPH!” Join us on a journey through the wormhole along with filmmaker Isadora Neves Marques as we discuss Christopher Nolan’s intergalactic adventure, Interstellar . Is love calculable? How does this compare to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: a Space Odyssey? When does Nolan intercut TOO much? And is Matt Damon’s performance good? All will be revealed… if you listen, that is. Links: You can find selections of Dora’s writing on their website . You don’t have to travel through a black hole to find our FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ www.deepcutpod.com Timestamps: 00:00:00…
S5 · E139 · 5 Jul 2026 · 28 min
139. HKIFF50: Interview with Tsai Ming-liang
The seventh and final director interview Wilson conducted at this year’s Hong Kong International Film Festival is with the legendary Taiwanese filmmaker Tsai Ming-liang. Wilson asks one of his cinematic heroes about the state of filmmaking today, his methods for working with actors, and his decades-long collaboration with Lee Kang-sheng. Kiss a melon in our FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ www.deepcutpod.com Timestamps: 00:00 intro 03:42 What do you hope new audiences will take from your films? 04:43 Rebels of the Neon god 06:20 Tsai and realism 07:35 The Hole 09:30 Tsai’s…
S5 · E138 · 28 Jun 2026 · 33 min
138. HKIFF50: Mare's Nest (2025) - Interview with Director Ben Rivers
The sixth of seven (6-7!!!) director interviews Wilson conducted at this year’s Hong Kong International Film Festival is with the British, experimental director Ben Rivers, creator of the child-focused, post-apocalyptic exploration Mare’s Nest . Rivers speaks about giving child actors the freedom to be themselves onscreen, receiving Don Delillo’s blessing to stage his play The Word for Snow in the film, and the intention behind his depiction of an adultless world. Speak the word for snow in our FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ www.deepcutpod.com Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:03…
S5 · E137 · 21 Jun 2026 · 50 min
137. HKIFF50: Memory (2025) - Interview with Director Vladlena Sandu
The fifth of seven director interviews Wilson conducted at this year’s Hong Kong International Film Festival is with the thoughtfully impassioned Vladlena Sandu, director of the autobiographical drama Memory . Sandu shares her influences from Tarkovsky to Pajaranov, praises her collaborators on this film, how hypnotherapy helped her make this film, and her strong anti-war convictions. Remember our FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ www.deepcutpod.com Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:15 Interview starts 04:03 Making Sandu happen 07:47 Childhood trauma through film 10:25 Personal truth…
S5 · E136 · 14 Jun 2026 · 28 min
136. HKIFF50: Sleep No More (2026) - Interview with Director Edwin
The fourth of seven director interviews Wilson conducted at this year's Hong Kong International Film Festival is with Edwin, director of the fantasy horror Sleep No More . Edwin shares his wide range of influences from Indonesian cinema history and beyond, speaks to his film’s commentary on labor rights, shares his own Deep Cut pick, and… shares a sing-along with Wilson?! Take a nap in our FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ www.deepcutpod.com Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 04:04 Indoneisan horror film history 07:30 Edwin's influences 09:00 Indonesian politics and labor 15:38 Scary…
7 Jun 2026 · 32 min
135. HKIFF50: Ah Girl (2026) - Interview with Director Ang Geck Geck
The third of seven director interviews Wilson conducted at this year's Hong Kong International Film Festival is with the outgoing, reflective Ang Geck Geck, director of the semi-autobiographical childhood drama Ah Girl . Wilson connects with the Singaporean director over the long road to producing Ah Girl , the research with social workers that informed the script, the parts of her own childhood and family that are in the film, and her own Deep Cut Pick. Speak in Mandarin, English, or pretty much any other language in our FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ www.deepcutpod.com…
S5 · E134 · 31 May 2026 · 30 min
134. HKIFF50: Silent Friend (2025) - Interview with Director Ildikó Enyedi & Tony Leung
The second of seven director interviews Wilson conducted at this year's Hong Kong International Film Festival is with the thoughtful, patient Ildikó Enyedi, director of the equally thoughtful and patient Silent Friend . Wilson connects with the Hungarian director over her pensive approach to the natural world, the special place that HKIFF holds in her experience as a filmmaker, and her admiration of star Tony Leung… whose interview with Wilson is also at the end of this episode! Befriend a tree in our FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ www.deepcutpod.com Timestamps: 00:00 -…
S5 · E133 · 24 May 2026 · 41 min
133. HKIFF50: Palimpsest: The Story of a Name (2026) - Interview with Director Mary Stephen
The first of 7 director interviews Wilson conducted at this year's Hong Kong International Film Festival. Mary Stephen is a legend in world cinema, having worked as an editor for Éric Rohmer and Ann Hui, and being a celebrated film director in her own right. Wilson chats with Mary about her latest film, the personal documentary PALIMPSEST: THE STORY OF A NAME — its twisty narrative structure, its relationship to memory and family, and her deep ties to the city of Hong Kong. They also dig into her remarkable career as an editor, from switching between film and digital, to her creative…
S5 · E132 · 17 May 2026 · 44 min
132. Marina de Van: Don’t Look Back
Let’s, uh, frickin LOOK BACK at Marina De Van’s 2009 psychological thriller / body horror flick, Don’t Look Back. Sophie Marceau turns into Monica Bellucci; meanwhile, Eli tries to piece together the puzzle of De Van’s obscure career, Wilson notices the special effects, and Ben makes comparisons to soap operas. Links: Night Vision: Seeing Ourselves Through Dark Moods by Mariana Alessandri Interviews with & articles on Marina de Van: Rotterdam, 2019 Screenslate, 2022 Dread Central, 2022 The French Review, 2010 The Guardian, 2004 Pinnland Empire, 2012 Look at our FREE patreon, discord server,…
S5 · E131 · 3 May 2026 · 1 hr 21 min
131. Marina de Van: In My Skin
Not for the faint of heart, Marina de Van’s film In My Skin challenges our stomachs, hearts and minds. While Wilson squirms, Ben gets to the heart of why Eli loves sicko mode movies. Can one of the most underrated New French Extremism films secretly be deeply empathetic? Links: The Art of Cruelty: A Reckoning by Maggie Nelson “The Goon Squad” by Daniel Kolitz ( Harpers Magazine , 2025) Night Vision: Seeing Ourselves Through Dark Moods by Mariana Alessandri Interviews with & articles on Marina de Van: Rotterdam, 2019 Screenslate, 2022 Dread Central, 2022 The French Review, 2010 The Guardian,…
S5 · E130 · 26 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 44 min
130. HKIFF50 Dispatch (The Drama, Blue Heron, Silent Friend, We’re Nothing at All, and MORE!)
哈囉 from Hong Kong! Wilson recaps a busy edition of the Hong Kong International Film Festival, including meeting and interviewing the one and only Tony Leung Chiu Wai for SILENT FRIEND. Wilson also chats about the seven(!) soon to come director interviews he conducted for the podcast, and some interesting classic films shown at this year’s edition of HKIFF. The trio also discuss some exciting new releases including new films from Hong Sang-soo, Carla Simon, and Anthony Chen. Links: Tony Leung Interview The Blade Video Essay Radu Jude on Hong reel Take the MTR to our FREE patreon, discord…
S5 · E129 · 19 Apr 2026 · 52 min
129. Kelly Reichardt: The Mastermind
“[Reichardt] makes you love these dicks.” – Wilson How on earth does she do that? Does she have the mind of a master? Join us as we find out how Reichardt’s idiosyncratic style in The Mastermind helps you love this one dick despite all the hairy situations he’s entangled in. We debate the film’s reception during the AMC secret screening debacle, Reichardt's constantly zagging career, and her place in the American cinema landscape amidst dwindling cultural literacy. Links: Filmstage interview Mind of a master video Master your mind at our FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @…
S5 · E128 · 5 Apr 2026 · 48 min
128. Lynne Ramsay: Die My Love
After an 8-year hiatus, Lynne Ramsay has returned with her latest feature, Die My Love, and we're here to keep up with the Scottish auteur! After an 8-year hiatus, Lynne Ramsay has returned with her latest feature, Die My Love , starring Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson. On this Deep Cut Upkeep episode, we find out if it was worth the wait and consider what’s next for the Scottish auteur. Eli helps define the subgenre of “mommy horror,” Ben questions the depth of the movie’s characters, and Wilson draws comparisons to Marielle Heller’s Nightbitch and Darren Aronofsky’s Mother! . Links:…
S5 · E127 · 29 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 27 min
127. Interview with Kani Releasing: Ariel Esteban Cayer and Pearl Chan
Wilson takes a trip to Peng Chau to visit Ariel and Pearl of Kani Releasing, a North American film distribution company specializing in Asian cinema, to chat about their work, the films in their catalog and the changing film landscape for theatrical/physical media distribution. Wilson takes a trip to Peng Chau to visit Ariel and Pearl of Kani Releasing, a North American film distribution company specializing in Asian cinema, to chat about their work, the films in their catalog and the changing film landscape for theatrical/physical media distribution. The chat about select titles in the Kani…
S5 · E126 · 22 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
126. Hong Sang-soo: What Does That Nature Say To You?
Flowers bloom at night… it’s not scary. With our first of presumably many Deep Cut Upkeeps on prolific South Korean auteur Hong Sang-soo, we explore What Does That Nature Say to You? We flesh out our theory of how Hong achieves authenticity and immediacy while eliding simple meaning, unpack the latest Hong male lead, and catch Hong’s reference to 6-7. Bow at our grandmothers’ trees at our FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ www.deepcutpod.com Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 05:12 General reactions 12:20 Glazing the boyfriend 14:30 Context 20:50 Dong-hwa as a Hong man 29:50 Girlfriend's…
S5 · E125 · 8 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
125. Hong Sang-soo: Hill of Freedom (featuring Ryan Swen)
Film critic and Events Chair of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Ryan Swen joins us to discuss his Hong Sang-soo Deep Cut Pick, Hill of Freedom . Swen has had a huge hand in shaping our Hong series through his ongoing criticism project, Hong Sang-soo Notarized . We all take a look at the non-chronological narrative of Hong’s meditation on misogyny, Japan and Korea, and the unsurprising consequences of drinking too much. Drop your letters at our FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ www.deepcutpod.com Timestamps: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:40 Ryan Swen introduction 00:04:29 Hong…
S5 · E124 · 22 Feb 2026 · 57 min
124. Hong Sang-soo: The Novelist’s Film (featuring Dennis Lim)
Writer, film curator, and leading Hong Sang-soo scholar Dennis Lim brings a personal favorite from Hong’s oeuvre–– 2022’s The Novelist’s Film –– to Deep Cut . As the DC trio and their esteemed guest enjoy the luxuriate in Hong’s complex, joyous depiction of collaborating artists-in-exile, Dennis shares his background with Hong, this film’s shape, and the model Hong sets for young, independent filmmakers. Film your novel at our FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ www.deepcutpod.com Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:08 Introducing guest 03:47 Lim's background with Hong 11:15 DC trio's…
S5 · E123 · 17 Feb 2026 · 2 hr 48 min
123. The Best Movies of 2025, according to Deep Cut (with discussions on Sinners, Wake Up Dead Man, Left Handed Girl, Sirat, Magellan, It Was Just an Accident, Sentimental Value, Black Bag, and MORE!)
Sorry Baby , but it’s One Battle After Another , as we clash and debate our favorite films of 2025! We’re covering obligatory mentions of the biggest films of the year and picking up our Weapons to dunk on some that we’re Regretting You watched. Which of these films will we look back on with strong Sentimental Value, 28 Years Later ? Which are winners, which are Sinners ? I’m afraid you’re going to have to Wake Up Dead Man from your Dreams (Sex Love), some might even call that a Resurrection, because you’ve got No Other Choice but to listen and find out. Links Wilson's Reviews: News from…
S5 · E122 · 8 Feb 2026 · 55 min
122. Hong Sang-soo: Yourself and Yours
In this episode, we get into Ben’s favorite Hong film of all time, Yourself and Yours. If On The Beach At Night Alone is Hong’s first reflection on the scandalized reception to the reveal of his relationship with Kim Min-hee, Ben shares the theory that Yourself and Yours is secretly the one about its beginning. In our discussion, we try to pin down Minjung’s slippery personas, pick apart the film’s dream sequences, define the qualities of Hong’s surrealist and yet mundane approach, and ask, what does it take to be a Hong film that believes in love? Links: Yourself and Yours segmentation…

About Deep Cut: A Film Podcast

Deep Cut: A Film Podcast is a English film & tv podcast from Wilson, Ben, and Eli. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Wilson, Ben, and Eli
Language: English
Category: Film & TV
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 58 min
Latest episode: 11 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1546231378
Rights: Wilson, Ben, and Eli

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