Why This Film?
🎬 Exploring the Criterion Collection, one spine at a time.
In each episode, I sit down with film historians, critics, filmmakers, and scholars for in-depth conversations about a single film from the Criterion Collection.
I'm Ron, and I guide these expert-driven discussions examining the artistry, cultural significance, and historical context of classic and contemporary cinema. From French New Wave masterpieces to American westerns, from experimental shorts to beloved classics, we unpack what makes these films essential viewing.
Whether you're a longtime Criterion collector, a film student, or simply curious about cinema history, Why This Film? offers thoughtful analysis and engaging conversations about the movies that shaped filmmaking.
New episodes release 1-2 times monthly. Subscribe to join me for deep dives into the Criterion Collection.
Why This Film?
Latest Episodes
Birth (2004, Jonathan Glazer) with Carlos Aguilar - Criterion Collection Spine #1298
"It captures an uncanny feeling that relates to grief, that there's something after, the hope we could get more time with someone we love."In this episode of Why This Film?, Film critic Carlos Aguilar joins me to explore ...
La cérémonie (1995, Claude Chabrol) with Girish Shambu - Criterion Collection Spine #1199
"It's an incredibly rich film."In this episode of Why This Film?, I'm joined by film critic and scholar Girish Shambu to explore La cérémonie, Claude Chabrol's 1995 masterpiece and Criterion Collection Spine #119...
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022, Guillermo del Toro & Mark Gustafson) with Caleb Tyson - Criterion Collection Spine #1201
"It's a perfectly imperfect film."In this episode of Why This Film?, I'm joined by film editor Caleb Tyson to explore Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022), the Academy Award-winning stop-motion feature and Crite...
Kagemusha (1980, Akira Kurosawa) with Michael Repsch - Criterion Collection Spine #267
"Is our identity predetermined or something we can create?"In this episode of Why This Film?, I'm joined by Michael Repsch, President of Dark Star Pictures, to explore Kagemusha - Akira Kurosa...
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001, Wes Anderson) with Chris Cook - Criterion Collection Spine #157
"To me, it's a perfect film."In this episode of Why This Film?, I'm joined by assistant director Chris Cook to explore The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), Wes Anderson's meticulously crafted family d...
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