The Ministry of Film

Carolina and Robin
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The art and politics of classic films. Presented by Carolina Saludes and Robin McGhee

  1. 5d ago ·  Video

    The Piano (1993)

    Carolina and Robin go down under to discuss the feminist classic that is Jane Campion's The Piano (1993).  Politics include: life in the 1800s being pretty sucky for women, the unbearable weight of English cricket club politics being transferred to a small village in New Zealand, the on-the-ground horrors of colonialism, and how falling in love with Harvey Keitel may be harder than it seems. Plus the most haunting music you've ever heard played on an empty beach.  If you like what you hear, please rate and subscribe to the show wherever you're listening, it will help others find the pod. You will hopefully be able to see us as well as hear us, and we would love to know what you think, so please leave a comment wherever you're listening to this! Follow us on: Instagram @ministryoffilmpodBluesky @ministryoffilmpod.bskyb.social

    The Piano (1993)

  2. Aug 27 ·  Video

    The Odyssey (2026)

    Robin and Carolina take a detour from the usual schedule to talk about THE blockbuster of the summer, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey.  Politics include: 3,000 of theorising about Odysseus' motives, the MAGA right-wing press going bonkers at the film, and the small matter of the politics of the Olympus getting in the way of our hero getting back to Ithaca. Plus that Trojan horse. If you want to keep engaging with the Cyclops-style amount of commentary about the film and the epic poem, here are some recommendations from R+C: Classicist and Translator Emily Wilson's review of the Odyssey film (spoiler, she didn't love it)The film The Return for those looking for a more faithful adaptation of the second part of the poem (or at least Ralph Fiennes looking stacked)The film O'Brother Where Art Thou? by the Coen Brothers, a satirical, loosely adapted version of the OdysseyThe BBC's In Our Time episode on The Odyssey - A classic on a classicIf you liked the Odyssey and want to delve deeper into the classics, Robin recommends Homer's Iliad and Virgil's Aeneid as follow up epic poems to followFor the mega nerds out there, check out the oldest piece of narrative literature, the Epic of Gilgamesh - Hollywood: you know what to do.If you like what you hear, please rate and subscribe to the show wherever you're listening, it will help others find the pod. You will hopefully be able to see us as well as hear us, and we would love to know what you think, so please leave a comment wherever you're listening to this! Follow us on: Instagram @ministryoffilmpodBluesky @ministryoffilmpod.bskyb.social

    The Odyssey (2026)

  3. Aug 7 ·  Video

    Taxi Driver: Part 2

    Carolina and Robin come back for part two of their deep dive into the heart of darkness of New York City, a young angry man, and rampant capitalism. Politics include: Bobby de Niro raging his own Vietnam War on the streets of New York during the grossest-looking bin strike; young prostitute Iris creeping the heck out of viewers; the slimy US politics of the mid 1970s, which have not changed all that much; and a load of over-glamourised military paraphernalia. Plus Carolina's rant about making these films disappear off our screens for a bit. Please. You will hopefully be able to see us as well as hear us, and we would love to know what you think, so please leave a comment wherever you're listening to this! If you like what you hear, please rate and subscribe to the show wherever you're listening, it will help others find the pod. You will hopefully be able to see us as well as hear us, and we would love to know what you think, so please leave a comment wherever you're listening to this! Follow us on: Instagram @ministryoffilmpodBluesky @ministryoffilmpod.bskyb.social

    Taxi Driver: Part 2

  4. Jun 6 ·  Video

    Taxi Driver: Part 1

    Robin and Carolina stay in the depths of New York City, this time looking at all-time loser incel Travis Bickle in Martin Scorsese's seminal Taxi Driver. There was so much to say that, for the first time, the episode will be split into two parts. Politics include: Bobby de Niro raging his own Vietnam War on the streets of New York during the grossest-looking bin strike; young prostitute Iris creeping the heck out of viewers; the slimy US politics of the mid 1970s, which have not changed all that much; and a load of over-glamourised military paraphernalia.  You will hopefully be able to see us as well as hear us, and we would love to know what you think, so please leave a comment wherever you're listening to this! If you like what you hear, please rate and subscribe to the show wherever you're listening, it will help others find the pod. You will hopefully be able to see us as well as hear us, and we would love to know what you think, so please leave a comment wherever you're listening to this! Follow us on: Instagram @ministryoffilmpodBluesky @ministryoffilmpod.bskyb.social

    Taxi Driver: Part 1

  5. May 16 ·  Video

    Léon: The Professional

    Carolina and Robin step into the world of the 90s New York Italian mafia (with a side of daddy issues) in Luc Besson's 'Léon: The Professional'. Politics include: Italians called Fat Tony leading the New York underworld; corrupt cops played by Gary Oldman skimming off the top of said underworld; and a deserved swipe at the Donald Trump types sitting comfortably on top of all that. And a 12-year-old girl learning to become a killer.  For the first time, we're not just in your ears but also your eyes! Tell us how you like it, and as ever, thank you for bearing with us while we get our heads around this incredibly new technology. If you like what you hear, please rate and subscribe to the show wherever you're listening, it will help others find the pod. You will hopefully be able to see us as well as hear us, and we would love to know what you think, so please leave a comment wherever you're listening to this! Follow us on: Instagram @ministryoffilmpodBluesky @ministryoffilmpod.bskyb.social

    Léon: The Professional

  6. Mar 19

    Alice in Wonderland (1951) and Alice (1988)

    'Alice had got so much into the way of expecting nothing but out-of-the-way things to happen, that it seemed quite dull for life to go on in the common way' Robin and Carolina come back from their brief hiatus to discuss not one, but two Alice's Adventures in Wonderland adaptations: Disney's 'Alice in Wonderland' (1951) and Jan Švankmajer's 'Alice' (1988). Politics include: Victorian satire, logic that isn't logic (but maybe is), how growing up is scary but exciting, the value of wonderment to the human experience, and a bucket of dead oysters. More cool, psychedelic writing about the meaning of Alice: 'Female identity in Wonderland' by Anna Cermakova (you knew there would be one about feminism)'Alice's adventures in algebra' by Melanie Bayley (really rather good, actually)'Carroll's satirical vision of the age' by Ansam Khyoon (more politics, for you nerds)If you like what you hear, please rate and subscribe to the show wherever you're listening, it will help others find the pod. You will hopefully be able to see us as well as hear us, and we would love to know what you think, so please leave a comment wherever you're listening to this! Follow us on: Instagram @ministryoffilmpodBluesky @ministryoffilmpod.bskyb.social

    Alice in Wonderland (1951) and Alice (1988)

  7. Feb 13

    Lincoln (2012) with Jeevun Sandher MP

    Carolina is joined by UK Member of Parliament and Junior Minister Jeevun Sandher to discuss the ultimate blast from the past political historical drama Lincoln (2012), from Steven Spielberg.  Because who better to discuss a jobbing politician than... a jobbing politician. Politics include: Daniel Day-Lewis acting his absolute socks off, something about the purity of the democratic process (remember that, USA?), the undeniable need to master words in politics, the even more undeniable need to master force in politics, and maybe a bit about why ending slavery is great but what about universal suffrage.  You can expect great speeches and even better facial hair.  Ready to read some tomes about the great Abe? 'Team of Rivals' (2009) by Doris Kearns Goodwin, on which the film is based'Abraham Lincoln: A life' (2008) by Michael Burlingame, if you don't fear neck pain in bed'Battle cry of freedom' (1988) by James M. McPherson, for those wanting an even more depressing readIf you like what you hear, please rate and subscribe to the show wherever you're listening, it will help others find the pod. You will hopefully be able to see us as well as hear us, and we would love to know what you think, so please leave a comment wherever you're listening to this! Follow us on: Instagram @ministryoffilmpodBluesky @ministryoffilmpod.bskyb.social

    Lincoln (2012) with Jeevun Sandher MP

  8. 11/27/2025

    Waterloo (1970) with Matthew Palmer

    Robin and Carolina are joined by writer and former British Army soldier Matthew Palmer to discuss the best (and hammiest) film about Napoleon Bonaparte. Politics include: everything you needed to know about the egomaniac, manipulative, completely genius character of Bonaparte; how Wellington was a massive dick, but so was everyone else; the nuts story behind how the film came into existence, and how it literally couldn't be made today; and of course the politics of the battlefield at Waterloo. Plus some of the best one-liners committed to film in the history of cinema. Hold on to your horses: it's going to be a good one. Need more Bonaparte in your life? Check some of these monumental works - there are many, many, many others 'Napoleon the Great' by Andrew Roberts'Napoleon: the Myth of the Saviour' by Jean Tulard'The Greatest Movie Never Made: Kubrik's Napoleon vs Bondarchuk's Waterloo' by Matthew ShadboltIf you like what you hear, please rate and subscribe to the show wherever you're listening, it will help others find the pod. You will hopefully be able to see us as well as hear us, and we would love to know what you think, so please leave a comment wherever you're listening to this! Follow us on: Instagram @ministryoffilmpodBluesky @ministryoffilmpod.bskyb.social

    Waterloo (1970) with Matthew Palmer
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About

The art and politics of classic films. Presented by Carolina Saludes and Robin McGhee

Information

  • Creator
    Carolina and Robin
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Ministry of Film
  • Show Website
    The Ministry of Film

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