Is This About Filmmaking?

Is This About Filmmaking

Welcome to the meeting point between craft, theory and the lived experience.

  1. 6d ago

    Sabbatical Pt 3: Modern African Realism

    This episode is dedicated to Ntate Seputla Sebogodi. We thank you for your craft, but most importantly, for the familiarity you brought to every role, ensuring the characters felt human and authentic. May your legacy continue to inspire storytellers and audiences alike. Robala ka kgotso. What makes a film feel real? In this episode, we explore Modern African Realism through Koketso's contentment to Lesego's pursuit of achievement. We discuss how ordinary lives, everyday language, and quiet emotional truths challenge familiar cinematic tropes about success, ambition, and the township. Listener discretion is advised.

  2. Jul 12

    Sabbatical Pt 2: The Power of Self-definition

    In this episode, we explore Sabbatical through the lens of Black feminist thought. We examine how the film invites conversations about identity, self-definition, care, belonging, and the pressures placed on Black women to constantly perform strength and success. Listener discretion is advised.

  3. Jul 5

    Sabbatical Pt 1: Mother-daughter Dynamics

    For this month, we take a look at Sabbatical, a film that is written and directed by Karabo Lediga. It follows a banker who returns unannounced to her childhood home and her overbearing mother, whom she hardly visits. Unbeknownst to her mother, a life-changing secret brought her back, threatening to upend their relationship forever (Diprente, 2025). In the first episode, we consider the mother-daughter relationship at the heart of the film, particularly looking at the protagonist, Lesego and her mother, Doris. We learn how they mirror each other and how they have intentionally and unintentionally kept themselves in a cyclical nature of secrecy. Listener discretion is advised.

  4. Jun 28

    Night of the Kings Pt 4: The Youth’s Inherited Responsibility

    On our last episode, we discuss the responsibility passed down from the older generation to the youth through a case study of Blackbeard ‘s character archetype derived from the Virgin’s Promise. Listener discretion advised.

  5. Jun 21

    Night of the Kings Pt 3: Prison Setting & Scene Analysis

    On the penultimate episode on Night of the Kings, we continue quite an emotional journey going through this film that fell into our hands. We step inside La Maca, Côte d'Ivoire's largest prison and the setting of the film. More than a prison, La Maca functions as its own society, with its own rituals, hierarchies, and rules. Join us as we break down the film's opening scene and explore how Philippe Lacôte transforms this fortress into a compelling setting. Listener is discretion is advised.

  6. Jun 14

    Night of the Kings Pt 2: Language, translation and cultural meaning

    This week, we explore language, translation, and storytelling through Night of the Kings. From the role of the djeli and African oral traditions to adaptation, cultural nuance, and storytelling as survival. We examine how stories travel across cultures, what gets lost in translation, and why specificity often makes stories more universal rather than less. Listener discretion is advised.

  7. Jun 7

    Night of the Kings Pt 1: Character Analysis

    Night of the Kings (2021) follows a young man who is thrust into the responsibility of being a storyteller on his first night in prison. Should he fail to fulfil this duty, his life will be in danger. On today’s episode, we unpack the dichotomy between the young and the old generation through the characters Roman and Barbe Noire. This episode is brought to you by Eyethu Heritage Hall who are responsible for Eyethu Franco Xchange, a gathering where Francophone Africa meets Soweto through music, film, and conversation. For more information, follow @eyethuheritagehall on Instagram and visit their website eyethuheritage.co.za Listener discretion is advised.

  8. May 31

    Kanarie Pt 5: Continuation of Opening Sequence Analysis

    In our last episode, we continue to talk about the opening sequence, which introduces Johan Niemand and who he is in his imaginary world, which would eventually influence his trajectory in his journey with the Kanaries. We speak about Boy George, music in the film and the overall impression this film made and what it means to us as individuals. Listener discretion is advised.

See All (25)

About

Welcome to the meeting point between craft, theory and the lived experience.

Information

  • Creator
    Is This About Filmmaking
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Is This About Filmmaking
  • Show Website
    Is This About Filmmaking?