Episode 18: “Christiane F.” with Katie Walsh
A podcast about the great movies.
We’re back with our latest episode of Guide for the Film Fanatic! In each episode, Jason Bailey and Mike Hull invite a guest from the world of film (including filmmakers, authors, critics, actors, and more) to select one of the 1600+ “must-see movies” collected in Danny Peary’s seminal 1986 book, Guide for the Film Fanatic. Bailey, Hull, and their guests deep dive on each film, discussing its history, themes, style, performances, initial reception, and legacy, taking a fresh look at some of the most beloved titles in cinema history.
When film critic and podcaster Katie Walsh finally saw the 1981 German sensation “Christiane F” in its 4K restoration reissue, she needed to talk about it — and we’re lucky enough that she joined us to do just that this week. It was also Mike and Jason’s first watch, so listen in as we pick our collective jaws up off the floor over this tough, unsentimental look at life on the fringes of ‘70s-era Berlin.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Downcast, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. We’ve partnered up with One Heat Minute Productions on this show, so we’ve migrating it over to their feed; subscribe now if you haven’t already.
We’re also putting our new episodes up on YouTube! Watch the show on our YouTube channel, @guideforthefilmfanatic, for visual accompaniment and bonus stuff and who knows what else:
Christiane F is not currently streaming legally, so you’ll have to do some digging, but it’s worth it. You can watch the trailer here. You can read the New York Times review here.
Katie’s website is here, for links to her work and socials. If you’d like to check out the YouTube page for Mike’s other podcast, Black Diplomats, it’s here. And Jason’s new book Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend is OUT NOW, and you can order it from MZS Press, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, or wherever you get your hardbacks, ebooks, and/or audiobooks.
Last but not least, if you’d like to make a little donation to support us and the show, you can do that at Ko-fi!