ACF#11 Damsels in Distress

 

This week’s podcast is the beginning of a series on the films of Whit Stillman, the poet of the preppie class, the ironist of the romantic comedy — as people sometimes say, America’s own Jane Austen. I am joined by our own @flaggtaylor and our common friend Carl Eric Scott for a discussion of Damsels in Distress, a delightful comedy about an American liberal arts college, constructed with an admirable respect for the rules of comedy and almost entirely free of the sordid. Almost everything you see is laughable and there is a sophisticated way of getting to distinguish what we are inclined to laugh at because of our common sense and what is merely laughable because of our prejudices.

My friends and I will do our best to persuade you that Whit Stillman is the most conservative director in America, in part because he is dedicated to comedy, a much neglected form of story-telling in our times of rising passions. Stream or download the discussion, enjoy our observations, wild speculation, and theories confirmed by Whit Stillman himself, whom I will ask for an interview to conclude this series. And please share the podcast on social media!

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  1. MLH Inactive
    MLH
    @MLH

    Looking forward to listening, even though I haven’t seen the film. Yet.

    • #1
  2. Titus Techera Contributor
    Titus Techera
    @TitusTechera

    MLH (View Comment):
    Looking forward to listening, even though I haven’t seen the film. Yet.

    M, it’s hard for me to believe I’m saying this, especially with a lovely movie, but yeah, listen first, watch second is sometimes the best advice!

    But also, let me know how you like the podcast! I’m less sure that we approached the matter in quite the right way. I hope you enjoy it! Next week is the next half of the conversation, on Last days of disco.

    • #2
  3. CB Toder aka Mama Toad Member
    CB Toder aka Mama Toad
    @CBToderakaMamaToad

    Almost entirely free, except for those Cathars…

    • #3
  4. CB Toder aka Mama Toad Member
    CB Toder aka Mama Toad
    @CBToderakaMamaToad

    I watched this film last year and then made Papa Toad watch it again with me.

    So funny. So unexpected in so many ways.

    Thanks Titus for writing and speaking about it. Woop woop!

    • #4
  5. Titus Techera Contributor
    Titus Techera
    @TitusTechera

    Mama toad, whenever our taste turns to the same things, I feel both surprised and reassured: of course we’d both like the strangest, funniest Stillman comedy!

    • #5
  6. CB Toder aka Mama Toad Member
    CB Toder aka Mama Toad
    @CBToderakaMamaToad

    Early morning at the Lake, I am listening to the podcast finally in a quiet moment. I love your analysis of Damsels, the vision of the beautiful and the pleasant in friendship…

    I am very much hopeful about you and Stillman! I really hope that works out.

    And I look forward to hearing you and Flagg talk about Lives of Others, a very bleak and powerful experience.

    (Last night panorama from the beach:

    )

    • #6
  7. CB Toder aka Mama Toad Member
    CB Toder aka Mama Toad
    @CBToderakaMamaToad

    The Mail the other day had a news story on how line dancing for elders can stave off dementia. So you are, of course, entirely correct about the social value of dancing — it can also improve herd mental health!

    • #7
  8. CB Toder aka Mama Toad Member
    CB Toder aka Mama Toad
    @CBToderakaMamaToad

    Doesn’t the soap literally save Violet’s life? The wonderful scent turns her back to life, so she thinks it could help the whole world.

    • #8
  9. CB Toder aka Mama Toad Member
    CB Toder aka Mama Toad
    @CBToderakaMamaToad

    Love your explication of the meaning behind the dances. Great stuff.

    • #9
  10. CB Toder aka Mama Toad Member
    CB Toder aka Mama Toad
    @CBToderakaMamaToad

    Very satisfying discussion, gentlemen. Thanks so much @flaggtaylor, Titus, and Mr. Scott. (Is he a Rico member, Titus?)

     

    • #10
  11. Titus Techera Contributor
    Titus Techera
    @TitusTechera

    No, MT, he’s not here. But I’m now working on a post to try to invite people here as contributors. But of course, I have to talk them into it first. I dunno why Americans would want me to talk them into associating with each other, but there it is, someone’s gonna hafta to do it, because it’s certainly not getting itself done. I’ve instigated meetups. I can do worse… You could say, I’ve learned from Americans that you have to work hard to persuade people & give them something worthwhile. Not to say that idling in parks talking to friends is not my inclination, but I’m grown, so I’ve some judgment to bring to bear…

    Also, I’ve written to Mr. Stillman to interview him after hearing him debate a silly woman who thinks views she doesn’t like are classist, do not care about the poor, & are insufficiently educated or sophisticated. What a harridan… Maybe he’ll answer, but maybe he doesn’t care for my remarks anymore. People are funny. I’ve been reading Flannery O’Connor lately & I think I’m learning that Americans are even funnier than I had thought before.

    • #11
  12. MLH Inactive
    MLH
    @MLH

    Titus Techera (View Comment):
    I’ve been reading Flannery O’Connor lately & I think I’m learning that Americans are even funnier than I had thought before.

    I’ve read two of her short stories from A Good Man is Hard to Find. I’m not sure that I’m going to finish it and don’t see, so far, what all the recent hullabaloo is about.

    • #12
  13. Titus Techera Contributor
    Titus Techera
    @TitusTechera

    MLH (View Comment):

    Titus Techera (View Comment):
    I’ve been reading Flannery O’Connor lately & I think I’m learning that Americans are even funnier than I had thought before.

    I’ve read two of her short stories from A Good Man is Hard to Find. I’m not sure that I’m going to finish it and don’t see, so far, what all the recent hullabaloo is about.

    I could do podcasts endlessly!

    • #13
  14. CB Toder aka Mama Toad Member
    CB Toder aka Mama Toad
    @CBToderakaMamaToad

    The Enduring Chill is my favorite.

    “I’m Father Flynn, from Purrrrgatory.”

    • #14
  15. Flagg Taylor Member
    Flagg Taylor
    @FlaggTaylor

    Long live Thor!

    • #15
  16. Titus Techera Contributor
    Titus Techera
    @TitusTechera

    He is mighty.

    Here’s another thing. The rainbow (Bifrost) is the path from Midgaard to Asgard in Norse mythology! Thor is a thunder god so himself tied up with rain & thence rainbows. I dunno that Mr. Stillman knows any of this stuff, but there it is…

    • #16
  17. Flagg Taylor Member
    Flagg Taylor
    @FlaggTaylor

    CB Toder aka Mama Toad (View Comment):
    Doesn’t the soap literally save Violet’s life? The wonderful scent turns her back to life, so she thinks it could help the whole world.

    Good point.

    • #17
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