Dispatch from MacGuffins - June Culture Diary

Crying at a press screening, Brat cats, NZ eco-terrorists make me want to garden...

June Movie Diary:

• My First Film — Natalia and I had to scoot out to the bathroom to collect ourselves before braving the reception for a press screening of Zia Anger’s My First Film. I’d seen an earlier, live-narrated version of Zia Anger’s film in LA in 2019, but her feature version of the same project completely overwhelmed me. My First Film folds in typed narration, archival footage, and narrative scenes recreating Anger’s first feature’s accident-riddled shoot. Zia’s one of my favorite living filmmakers, and watching her investigate creation, birth, and rebirth in all its forms moved me more than I can say. It’s a radically generous examination of the cost and immature fallacy of auteurism, while also honoring and grieving the optimism of making work while you’re young. Odessa Young & Phil Ettinger are brilliant. Can’t wait to watch this again when it’s on Mubi later this year — I’m such a fan of all of the productions they’ve been quietly supporting.

• The Bikeriders — Everyone’s having such a great time making this movie. Austin Butler gets to wear vintage boots and prowl through dive bars, Jodie Comer tries on an insane (but apparently accurate?) Midwestern accent, Tom Hardy finally has an excuse to do his Brando impression. A capital M Movie, no thoughts, just immaculate vibes.