Four Favorites with Fran Hoepfner: classical kings, theater queens and kissing socialists

“I am fed up to the teeth with all these old, dead legends.” Writer and classical music fan Fran Hoepfner joins Gemma and Mia to talk us through her four favorite films on Letterboxd: Miloš Forman’s Amadeus; Merchant-Ivory’s A Room With a View; Mike Leigh’s Topsy-Turvy and Kelly Reichardt’s Certain Women.

Plus: why we can’t stop talking about TÁR (and what Fran would love to hear Lydia conduct next); the political and economic realities of creating art; why the world needs more pink; what cinephilia owes to The Simpsons; Daniel Day-Lewis’s finest underdog; our love for Simon Callow; Helena Bonham-Carter on all the kissing in A Room With a View; being unapologetic period-film fans; our favorite Mike Leigh players; the community of theater; when will we enter the Lily Gladstone rom-com-lead era?; the joys of Magic Mike XXL; and a brief meeting of the Jude Law thirst society.

Lists & Links:
The Letterboxd list of films mentioned in this episode; “obsession for perfection” by Mal, “The obsessed artist” by Laikha, “*jo march voice* women…” by BRAT, “gays who drive” by Kyle. Fran Magazine; Fran’s TÁR review on Gawker; Bright Wall/Dark Room Podcast’s Amadeus episode; Criterion interview with Helena Bonham-Carter; Law School Podcast

Reviews:
The Shape of Water by Fran; Topsy-Turvy by Ashton and Ben; Certain Women by Trevor and Kat.

Credits:
This episode was recorded in Los Angeles, Auckland and Brooklyn, and edited by Slim. Facts by Jack. Booker: Brian Formo. Transcript by Sophie Shin. Art by Samm. Theme: ‘Vampiros Dancoteque’ by Moniker. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.