Episode #34 - Dana Stevens (Letter From An Unknown Woman)

Click here to listen to the episode

"In some ways, I just think of myself as a writer. If I could never write about movies again, I'd be terribly sad, but I would continue to write."

As one of the film criticism's public figures, Dana Stevens has carved out a niche for herself with a thoughtful and intelligent approach to contemporary film reviewing. So she joins Peter in the studio for a brief chat about her days as a Comparative Lit. PhD, the 6 hour writing process, and the joy of the occasional Slate-style pitch. Then the two dive into Max Ophüls's opulent drama Letter From An Unknown Woman, which Dana finds majesty in the film's tragic metaphor for love while Peter explores the film's unique texture between the artificial and the authentic. Plus, Peter remembers Alain Resnais by revisiting two of his classics.

0:00-1:20 Opening 

2:01-8:20 Establishing Shots - RIP Alain Resnais / Donations

9:05-36:38 Deep Focus - Dana Stevens

38:34-1:01:32 Double Exposure - Letter from an Unknown Woman (Max Ophüls)

1:01:34-1:03:16 Close / Outtake

Read Dana Stevens at Slate and listen to the Slate Culture Gabfest.
Follow Dana on Twitter.