Truth & Movies: A Little White Lies Podcast

Bridget Jones: Mad About A Boy | To A Land Unknown | Divine Intervention (2002)

·51 min·5 clips

Bridget Jones returns as a widow, two Palestinian refugees seek escape, and a satirical film club pick explores love at a checkpoint.

The episode opens with hosts Leila Latif, Fatima Sharif, and Karina Antrobus introducing three films: 'Bridget Jones: Mad About a Boy,' 'To a Land Unknown,' and 'Divine Intervention.' They begin with a discussion of favorite romantic comedies, where Fatima highlights films from the 'golden age of black Hollywood' like 'Love Jones' and 'Love and Basketball,' emphasizing their focus on black women's love and agency. Karina mentions 'Mississippi Masala' for its sensuality, and Leila notes 'Rye Lane' for its chemistry. The hosts then review 'Bridget Jones: Mad About a Boy,' analyzing its portrayal of Bridget as a widow and single mother, with Karina arguing the title refers to her son, not the younger love interest. They praise the film's sentimental tone, performances by Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant, and its evolution from earlier installments. Next, they discuss 'To a Land Unknown,' a drama following Palestinian refugees in Athens who turn to theft and kidnapping to escape. The hosts appreciate its nuanced, non-judgmental approach and the tense, humanizing portrayal of desperate choices. For Film Club, they revisit 'Divine Intervention,' a satirical film about Palestinian lovers meeting at a checkpoint, noting its absurd humor, vignette structure, and superheroine sequence that critiques occupation. The episode concludes with non-movie recommendations: Fatima suggests exhibitions at the Hayward Gallery, and Karina promotes LGBTQ+ History Month events in Hackney and an exhibition at the British Museum. Throughout, the hosts score each film on anticipation, enjoyment, and retrospect, blending personal insights with critical analysis.

As heard by us

A lively film conversation where Bridget Jones's parenting anxieties open onto romance, recognition, and cultural context.

Truth & Movies works best as a compact three-part episode: Bridget Jones returning around Valentine's Day, two Palestinian men looking for refuge in an unknown land, and a Film Club return to Divine Intervention.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You get Bridget Jones back and mad about a boy, two Palestinian men seeking refuge, and a Film Club return to Divine Intervention in one Valentine's-week listen.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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