Ep 160: Talking modern romance, consent and character with Susanna Fogel, director of Cat Person Girls On Film

Returning to the pod is director Susanna Fogel to talk to Anna Smith about her riveting new feature Cat Person starring the brilliant Emilia Jones, best known for her lead role in Oscar-winning film CODA. Emilia plays Margot - a young, single, and seemingly self-possessed woman who meets Robert, played by Succession’s Nicholas Braun. The film, inspired by Kristen Roupenian’s viral New Yorker short story of the same name, explores issues around dating and consent as we follow Margot in her fledgling relationship with Robert. Susanna Fogel shares how the team brought the story to the big screen, and how she hopes it will provoke discussion around issues such as consent and dating.

Also returning to the pod in this episode is Ellen E Jones, film critic, broadcaster and writer who offers her insight into Cat Person and the cinematic language used in the film. Anna and Ellen delve into the representation and perspectives of both Margot and Robert, but also Margot’s mother Kelly (Hope Davis) and Margot’s lecturer and mentor played by Isabella Rossellini. Ellen’s new book 'Screen Deep: How film and TV can solve racism and save the world' is out in February 2024.

CAT PERSON is in UK & Ireland cinemas from Friday 27th October 2023

Other films mentioned in this episode include:
Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power, Nina Menkes 2022
Blade Runner, Ridley Scott 1982
Winner, Susanna Fogel tbc
Star Wars, 1977–2019
Barbie, Greta Gerwig 2023
Spirited Away, Hayao Miyazaki 2001
Zola, Janicza Bravo 2020
How to Have Sex, Molly Manning Walker 2023
Booksmart, Olivia Wilde 2019

Television mentioned in this episode include:
Succession, 2018–2023

You can hear Emilia Jones on CODA in Girls On Film episodes 90 and 108, and Susanna Fogel on her film A Small Light in Girls On Film episode 154.

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Girls On Film is an HLA production.

Host: Anna Smith
Executive Producer: Hedda Archbold
Producer: Lydia Scott
Audio editor: Emma Butt
Intern: Charlotte Matheson
House band: MX Tyrants

This episode is in partnership with STUDIOCANAL.

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