'Spencer,' Pop Culture and Princess Diana, Angela Merkel's Handling of Crises, Sufjan Stevens
Pablo Larraín's new film, "Spencer," documents three days of the late Princess Diana's life, ten years into her marriage, as she spends the Christmas holidays with the royal family. Starring Kristen Stewart as a haunted Diana, the film unfolds as a speculative drama, attempting to showcase how Diana might have felt, surrounded by a disintegrating marriage and a suffocating royal family, but still grounded by her love for her children. Director Larraín joins us to discuss his new film, ahead of its November 5 premiere.
Continuing our hour of Princess Diana coverage, Vulture writer, Alison Willmore, comes on to talk her review of Pablo Larraín's new film on Diana, “Spencer.” She’ll discuss the form and structure of the film, as well as the director’s style.
“Spencer” is just the latest of recent fictionalized portrayals of the life of Princess Diana, from “The Crown” to “Diana the Musical.” Why are creators and viewers still so fascinated with her story all these years later? Vox staff writer Constance Grady joins us to discuss her piece “The pop cultural obsession with Princess Diana’s innocence, explained,” and muse about why she remains an obsession in 2021.
Angela Merkel, one of the most powerful women in the world, has been the Chancellor of Germany since 2005. At the end of the year, she will leave office, placing German leadership in new hands. For the November edition of our ongoing series, "Full Bio," author Kati Marton joins us to discuss her biography of Merkel, The Chancellor: The Remarkable Odyssey of Angela Merkel, which discusses Merkel’s leadership, and how the country has changed while she has been in power. For the third installment, we'll discuss Merkel's handling of two major crises... the influx of refugees in Europe, and the potential collapse of the European Union.
Sufjan Stevens is no stranger to concept albums. From Michigan, to Illinois, to the astronomical Planetarium and the astrological Enjoy Your Rabbit, Stevens has focused many albums on a single idea. In his latest album, a collaboration with musician Angelo De Augustine titled, A Beginner’s Mind, the songwriters took inspiration from movies like, “Night of the Living Dead,” “Mad Max,” “She’s Gotta Have It,” and cheerleading comedy sequel, “Bring It On Again.” A Beginner’s Mind is Stevens’ second album of 2021, after Convocations, a 49-track instrumental album split into five volumes, each representing a stage of grief. Stevens joins us for a Listening Party.
