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Wolf Cub Film Club
'SUBJECT' WITH MARGIE RATLIFF
Season 2, Ep. 4
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On this episode episode Wolf (Steve Thomas) & Cub (Daniel Thomas) take a look at a new doco called 'Subject' which examines the impact of some well-known documentaries on the lives of their subjects with a focus on the ethics & responsibly inherent in documentary filmmaking. As tens of millions of people consume documentaries in an unprecedented "golden era," Subject urges audiences to consider the often profound impact on their participants The film club has been lucky enough to be joined by our first guest, Margie Ratliff who features in the doco. Margie kindly shares her experiences which have lead her to advocate on this vital topic of ethics in film. After our conversation, Steve also shares his approach to ethics as a filmmaker.
Subject is Directed by Camilla Hall & Jennifer Tiexiera.
Watch the official trailer here:
https://youtu.be/8qQ_cQuFQNA?si=ZetrQBXkfM_AAO9Y
It has been screening at festivals worldwide & is available on DocPlay.
https://www.docplay.com/shows/subject
If you have any feedback or a filmmaking question you'd like us to answer on the show please reach out.
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Wolf Cub Film Club Trailer
00:43|Wolf & Cub, who happen to be father and son, review top class films from around the world together. They're both filmmakers, Steve Thomas (Wolf) is a documentary maker & film school senior lecturer, while Danny Thomas (Cub) is also an actor and a writer. They review two films per episode, each recommended by the other, & discuss connecting themes as well as their own experiences on & off set. From opposite sides of the globe, between Australia & Germany. Season one comprises predominantly documentaries with the occasional narrative thrown in for good measure, a few shared memories & some inevitable banter about football. Episodes fortnightly! Launching in September.
1. PELÉ & DICK JOHNSON IS DEAD
01:17:14||Season 1, Ep. 1In our first episode wolf & cub dive into 2 Netflix documentaries,'Pelé' (2021) a homage to possibly the greatest footballer in history directed by Ben Nicholas & David Tryhorn & 'Dick Johnson is Dead' (2020) a hybrid doco directed by Kirsten Johnson as she helps her father prepare for the end of his life. In examining the films, cub is compelled to share a story about his close encounter with Pelé & wolf shares his thoughts on transparency in filmmaking. So load up on sweets from the candy bar & make yourselves comfortable.
2. BEASTIE BOYS STORY & AMY
01:09:49||Season 1, Ep. 2In this episode Wolf & Cub take a look at two music documentaries. First up it's 'Beastie Boys Story' (2020) a live doco experience Directed by Spike Jonze where the two remaining members Michael Diamond & Adam Horovitz share the story of the band & their 40 year friendship. Followed by 'Amy' (2015) Directed by Asif Kapadia, an intimate portrait of the life & career of Amy Winehouse. In discussing the films Wolf finds a newfound appreciation for the Beastie Boys & Cub draws from some of his own experiences in bands. Grab yourselves a glass of red & a pack of maltesers.
3. MY OCTOPUS TEACHER & KEDI
01:12:23||Season 1, Ep. 3Wolf & Cub roam the animal kingdom this week with two documentaries focused on animals & our relationships with them. First up it's 'My Octopus Teacher' (2020) directed by Pippa Ehrlich & James Reed which follows the journey of filmmaker Craig Foster as he forges an unusual bond with an octopus in a South African kelp forest. Next up is 'Kedi' (2016) directed by Ceyda Torun a profile of the ancient city of Istanbul, its people & its cats... Wolf & Cub share their own experience coming face to face with a giant sting ray & fond memories of their family cat named George. Hold onto your tickets stubs & enjoy.
4. SOUND OF METAL & THE ENGLISH SURGEON
01:26:47||Season 1, Ep. 4Wolf & Cub dissect two films this week with a medical theme. First up it's 'Sound of Metal' (2019) a narrative directed by Darius Marder about a heavy-metal drummer whose life is thrown into free-fall when he begins to lose his hearing. Next up is 'The English Surgeon' a documentary directed by Geoffrey Smith about the life of a neurosurgeon & the overwhelming dilemmas he continually faces. So find your row number, seat, sit back & relax.5. FREE SOLO & THE WORK
01:26:43||Season 1, Ep. 5Wolf & Cub take a look at two documentaries centred around masculinity and personal growth. First up is 'Free Solo' (2018) directed by Jimmy Chin & Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi about rock climber Alex Honnold's attempt to become the first person to climb El Capitan, a giant rock face in Yosemite National Park without ropes. Next up is 'The Work' (2017) directed by Jairus McLeary & Gethin Aldous where 3 men from the outside join inmates on the inside at Folsom Prison for 4 days of group therapy. In their chat about the films Wolf & Cub talk compromise in relationships & fatherhood.6. MISHA & THE WOLVES & STORIES WE TELL
01:23:15||Season 1, Ep. 6Wolf & Cub take a look at two documentaries that use interesting narrative devices. First up it's 'Misha & the Wolves' (2021) directed by Sam Hobkinson, the tale of a woman whose holocaust memoir took the world by storm, but a fallout with her publisher - who turned detective - revealed an audacious deception created to hide a darker truth. Next up it's 'Stories we tell' (2012) directed by Sarah Polley, a film that excavates layers of myth and memory to find an elusive family truth.7. THE FILMS OF JAFAR PANAHI
01:17:14||Season 1, Ep. 7On this episode wolf & cub change it up & look at the body of work from Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi. In 2010 Panahi was convicted by Iran’s Islamic republic of “making propaganda against the system” & placed under house arrest. He faced a 20 year ban on writing scripts, directing films, giving interviews or leaving the country. His films are a social critique & include ‘This is not a film’ (2011) ‘Taxi’ (2015) ‘Offside’ (2006) & ‘The Mirror’ (1997). A scene in Taxi reminds wolf & cub of a time when they scrambled to rescue a bunch of gold fish that spilled across the kitchen floor.8. ANOTHER ROUND & THE TRACKER
01:03:48||Season 1, Ep. 8On the final episode for season one, Wolf & Cub have chosen narrative films from Europe & Australia. First up Cub has selected the Danish film 'Another Round' (2020) about four high school teachers who consume alcohol on a daily basis to see how it affects their social and professional lives. Next up Wolf has chosen the Australian film 'The Tracker' (2002) about a police officer leading an expedition to find an aboriginal fugitive. The film stars the iconic David Gulpilil & is a timely chance for Wolf & Cub to pay tribute to him.