Exactly fifty years ago, on August 26 - 29, the infamous 1968 Democratic National Convention (and accompanying street protests/riots) unfolded in Chicago. Haskell Wexler was there to capture it on camera for his film Medium Cool, a disorienting mixture of documentary footage and a fictional narrative unfolding in and around this momentous event. Starring Twin Peaks' own Robert Forster as a young cameraman too absorbed in his craft to take account of its political implications, the film is a fascinating document to pick apart and reflect upon. I've known for months that I wanted to make this my film in focus for the big anniversary, and it was compelling to revisit the film at this particular political moment as well (the last time I saw it was around the end of the Bush era, when the left was far more inert than it is now).
This episode also covers one of the most important episode of The Return; Cooper awakens, Diane breaks down, Audrey dances, and Richard goes up in smoke in Part 16. I have a lot to say about all of this, especially the fascinating, pointed juxtapositions of Cooper's story with Diane's (and Audrey's). Twin Peaks discussion continues in listener feedback as I correct something from a previous podcast: the smile we see inside Sarah Palmer's face is not Laura Palmer. But who is it? We have a pretty good idea...
Elsewhere I recommend dozens of podcasts, ask what it takes for forgotten films to become beloved classics, and - for my second tier biweekly preview - draw connections between Fire Walk With Me and several Twin Peaks episodes from the second season.
Line-up for Episode 35
INTRO
WEEKLY UPDATE/Patreon - 2nd tier biweekly preview: comparing Fire Walk With Me to individual season 2 episodes
WEEKLY UPDATE/works in progress - republishing Twin Peaks episode comments from dugpa & Reddit, archive, reviewed Black Panther & Get Out
TWIN PEAKS REFLECTIONS Return Rewatch Pt. 16
The feel & structure of the episode
Twin Peaks - Richard's parents/Hit and run/Jerry/Ben & Beverly/Roadhouse/Audrey's world
FBI in South Dakota (including an aside on the Diane/Cooper juxtaposition)
Mr. C
Las Vegas - Cooper is back/Dougie at work/Dougie at home/The search for Dougie/Assassination/Mitchums
Spirit World - Red Room
Character introductions & re-introductions/screentime rankings/timeline of events
Lodge lore
Laura Palmer
FILM IN FOCUS: Medium Cool
OTHER TOPICS: Podcast recommendations
LISTENER FEEDBACK: Pt. 14 feedback including the green glove, Diane & Janey-E as sisters, and whose smile is inside of Sarah?
OPENING THE ARCHIVE: Popular, eventually...
OUTRO
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