Episode 194: Sarah Polley (feat. Kate Blair)

Having made three films as a director, Sarah Polley has become one of my favorite storytellers. All of her work has reflected an experience I’ve had to one degree or another and I’ve been a fan of hers going all the way back to her roles in films like GO and THE SWEET HEREAFTER. Joining me for an insightful discussion on her extraordinary three movies is returning guest and friend Kate Blair, who has written for several film websites and remains one of my favorite people to talk movies with. 

For this episode, we go through Polley’s exceptional work starting with her debut feature AWAY WE GO and ending on the hybrid docudrama STORIES WE TELL. And of course, there’s a lot to say about the rather divisive TAKE THIS WALTZ as well. Be sure to preorder Polley’s first memoir coming out next year and check out her interviews and podcasts because she’s passionate, articulate and remarkably brave and revealing in so many ways. In addition, we briefly talk about the HBO show SUCCESSION, PTA’s LICORICE PIZZA and the heartbreaking new Netflix documentary PROCESSION which was recently shown at the 2021 Chicago Critics Film Festival.

00:00 - 09:08 - Introduction
09:09 - 32:30 - What We Watched Recently
32:31 - 02:04:09 - Sarah Polley’s Films
02:04:10 - 02:12:16 - Outro

Kate Blair’s Letterboxd

Sarah Polley on The Thin Red Line

DGC Podcast: Sarah Polley |  Adaptation Process & Changing Expectations for Directors 

Sarah Polley Opens Up About What Really Matters to Her

Sarah Polley - Interview Magazine

Preorder Sarah’s Memoir Out in 2022