The Movies That Made Me IF I HAD LEGS I'D KICK YOU writer/director Mary Bronstein
10 snips
Dec 16, 2025 
Mary Bronstein, a writer-director and actor, discusses her latest film, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You. She reflects on the influence of classic films like Bonnie and Clyde and The Blair Witch Project on her artistic vision. Mary dives into the complexities of audience reactions to challenging narratives and shares insights on casting choices, including Conan O'Brien and A$AP Rocky. Additionally, she highlights iconic performances from Elizabeth Taylor in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Natalie Wood in Gypsy, revealing how these films shaped her approach to storytelling.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Rooting For Flawed Characters
- Mary Bronstein loved Bonnie and Clyde for its raw looseness and the emotional stakes despite knowing the outcome.
- The film taught her how to root for morally wrong characters and heighten tension through close-ups and silence.
Theater Moments That Shifted Perception
- Mary recounts being at the Angelika Theater for The Blair Witch Project opening night when people thought it was real missing-persons footage.
- She compares that debut thrill to seeing Alien and The Matrix early and feeling cultural impact.
Sexual Frustration As Narrative Force
- Splendor In The Grass showed Mary how sexual frustration and social pressure can derail a life onscreen.
- The film doubled as a document of period behavior and a blueprint for emotionally raw female stories.