The Pigeon Tunnel: Errol Morris Interviews John le Carré
Nov 22, 2023
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Great documentary filmmaker Errol Morris interviews espionage novelist John le Carré about his complex attitudes towards the Cold War, influence of Kim Philby on his work, similarities between Morris and le Carré as documentarians, and comparison with Graham Greene and Joseph Conrad. Morris also reflects on interview techniques and how he learned to interview a subject without saying anything.
The podcast explores John le Carré's complex attitudes towards the Cold War and the influence of British intelligence officer Kim Philby on his work.
The interview delves into the similarities between Errol Morris' documentary filmmaking and John le Carré's approach as a novelist, highlighting their shared passion for storytelling and truth-seeking.
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The Intricacies of John le Carré's Work Explored in 'The Pigeon Tunnel'
The podcast features an interview with Errol Morris, the great documentary filmmaker, discussing his latest film 'The Pigeon Tunnel', which is about renowned espionage novelist John le Carré. The conversation delves into le Carré's complex views on the Cold War, his inspiration from British intelligence officer Kim Philby, and his unique narrative style. Morris also reflects on the similarities between his own work as a documentarian and le Carré's approach as a novelist.
The Blurring Line Between Interrogations and Interviews
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Contradictions and Tensions: Understanding John le Carré
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The great documentary filmmaker Errol Morris is best known for films such as “The Thin Blue Line” and “The Fog of War.” His latest film, “The Pigeon Tunnel,” is about the great espionage novelist John le Carré, whose real name is David Cornwell.
Jack Goldsmith recently sat down with Morris to talk about “The Pigeon Tunnel.” They discussed le Carré’s complex and contradictory attitudes towards the Cold War, the influence of the traitorous British intelligence officer Kim Philby on le Carré's work, what Morris and le Carré have in common as documentarians, and how le Carré compares with Graham Greene and Joseph Conrad. Morris also reflected on his craft, including the difference between an interview and an interrogation and how he learned to interview a subject without saying anything.