
Cinema of Meaning
Cinema of Meaning is a conversational podcast that seeks to explore the depths of what cinema has to offer. Each week, we discuss an individual film to get a better understanding of its storytelling qualities, to examine its cinematic techniques, and to uncover its deeper meanings. Hosted by video essayists Tom van der Linden from the channel Like Stories of Old and Thomas Flight.
Latest episodes

Feb 2, 2023 • 57min
Ep. 48: Aftersun
Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden explore cinema as memory, and discuss the complex emotions that arise when trying to put together the fragmented pieces of one’s past, in Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun.Aftersun is available exclusively on MUBI in select countries, including UK, Italy, and Latin America. Start exploring the riches of cinema with a 30 day extended free trial of MUBI at mubi.com/cinemaofmeaningGet ad-free episodes a week early and access to a monthly bonus episode on Nebula: https://nebula.tv/cinemaofmeaning (Signing up using our link supports the podcast).Become part of the Cinema of Meaning community by supporting us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/cinemaofmeaningCheck us out on YouTube:Thomas Flight: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThomasFlightLike Stories of Old: https://youtube.com/c/LikeStoriesofOldCinema of Meaning: https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaofmeaningCheck us out on Nebula:Thomas Flight: https://nebula.tv/thomasflightLike Stories of Old: https://nebula.tv/lsooCinema of Meaning: https://nebula.tv/cinemaofmeaningFollow us:Cinema of Meaning: https://twitter.com/CinemaofMeaningTom van der Linden https://twitter.com/Tom_LSOOThomas Flight https://twitter.com/thomasflightSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 26, 2023 • 1h 6min
Ep. 47 Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss Rian Johnson’s Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery; and examine its puzzling structure, its controversial ending, and what it has to say about billionaires and other questionable cultural figures.Get ad-free episodes a week early and access to a monthly bonus episode on Nebula: https://nebula.tv/cinemaofmeaning (Signing up using our link supports the podcast).Become part of the Cinema of Meaning community by supporting us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/cinemaofmeaningCheck us out on YouTube:Thomas Flight: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThomasFlightLike Stories of Old: https://youtube.com/c/LikeStoriesofOldCinema of Meaning: https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaofmeaningCheck us out on Nebula:Thomas Flight: https://nebula.tv/thomasflightLike Stories of Old: https://nebula.tv/lsooCinema of Meaning: https://nebula.tv/cinemaofmeaningFollow us:Cinema of Meaning: https://twitter.com/CinemaofMeaningTom van der Linden https://twitter.com/Tom_LSOOThomas Flight https://twitter.com/thomasflightSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 19, 2023 • 1h 4min
Ep. 46: Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the Sight and Sound #1 movie of all time; the groundbreaking and voyeuristic portrait of a lonely woman trapped in a monotonous life of routine: Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du commerce, 1080 Bruxelles.Get ad-free episodes a week early and access to a monthly bonus episode on Nebula: https://nebula.tv/cinemaofmeaning (Signing up using our link supports the podcast).Become part of the Cinema of Meaning community by supporting us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/cinemaofmeaningCheck us out on YouTube:Thomas Flight: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThomasFlightLike Stories of Old: https://youtube.com/c/LikeStoriesofOldCinema of Meaning: https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaofmeaningCheck us out on Nebula:Thomas Flight: https://nebula.tv/thomasflightLike Stories of Old: https://nebula.tv/lsooCinema of Meaning: https://nebula.tv/cinemaofmeaningFollow us:Cinema of Meaning: https://twitter.com/CinemaofMeaningTom van der Linden https://twitter.com/Tom_LSOOThomas Flight https://twitter.com/thomasflightSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 5, 2023 • 56min
Ep. 45: The Menu
The hosts discuss their favorite theater-going experience and the connection between food and art. They analyze a scene and character in a movie, exploring the sacrifices of real chefs and contrasting them with a presumptuous character. They discuss the different types of people at a restaurant and the symbolic meaning of s'mores and cheeseburgers. They criticize the disconnect between artistic process and financial motives, emphasizing the importance of personal expression in creating art. They wrap up by discussing their recent burger experience and ways to support the show.

Dec 29, 2022 • 47min
Ep. 44: It's a Wonderful Life
Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the deconstruction of individualism, the tension between dreams and responsibility, and the timeless legacy of Frank Capra’s surprisingly prescient classic It’s a Wonderful Life.Start exploring the riches of cinema with a 30 day extended free trial of MUBI at mubi.com/cinemaofmeaningGet ad-free episodes a week early and access to a monthly bonus episode on Nebula: https://nebula.tv/cinemaofmeaning (Signing up using our link supports the podcast).Become part of the Cinema of Meaning community by supporting us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/cinemaofmeaningCheck us out on YouTube:Thomas Flight: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThomasFlightLike Stories of Old: https://youtube.com/c/LikeStoriesofOldCinema of Meaning: https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaofmeaningCheck us out on Nebula:Thomas Flight: https://nebula.tv/thomasflightLike Stories of Old: https://nebula.tv/lsooCinema of Meaning: https://nebula.tv/cinemaofmeaningFollow us:Cinema of Meaning: https://twitter.com/CinemaofMeaningTom van der Linden https://twitter.com/Tom_LSOOThomas Flight https://twitter.com/thomasflightSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dec 22, 2022 • 55min
Ep. 43: Avatar
Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the anatomy of great adventure stories, humanity’s strange relation to nature, and the power of emotional storytelling, in James Cameron’s Avatar.Listen to the bonus episode about Avatar: The Way Of Water on Nebula: https://nebula.tv/cinemaofmeaning (Signing up using our link supports the podcast).Become part of the Cinema of Meaning community by supporting us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/cinemaofmeaningCheck us out on YouTube:Thomas Flight: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThomasFlightLike Stories of Old: https://youtube.com/c/LikeStoriesofOldCinema of Meaning: https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaofmeaningCheck us out on Nebula:Thomas Flight: https://nebula.tv/thomasflightLike Stories of Old: https://nebula.tv/lsooCinema of Meaning: https://nebula.tv/cinemaofmeaningFollow us:Cinema of Meaning: https://twitter.com/CinemaofMeaningTom van der Linden https://twitter.com/Tom_LSOOThomas Flight https://twitter.com/thomasflightSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dec 15, 2022 • 1h 5min
Ep. 42: Triangle of Sadness
Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the complex dynamics between money, gender and class, the art of satire, and the question of what really happens when a social hierarchy collapses, in Ruben Östlund’s Triangle of Sadness.Get ad-free episodes a week early and access to a monthly bonus episode on Nebula: https://nebula.tv/cinemaofmeaning (Signing up using our link supports the podcast).Become part of the Cinema of Meaning community by supporting us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/cinemaofmeaningCheck us out on YouTube:Thomas Flight: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThomasFlightLike Stories of Old: https://youtube.com/c/LikeStoriesofOldCinema of Meaning: https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaofmeaningCheck us out on Nebula:Thomas Flight: https://nebula.tv/thomasflightLike Stories of Old: https://nebula.tv/lsooCinema of Meaning: https://nebula.tv/cinemaofmeaningFollow us:Cinema of Meaning: https://twitter.com/CinemaofMeaningTom van der Linden https://twitter.com/Tom_LSOOThomas Flight https://twitter.com/thomasflightSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dec 8, 2022 • 50min
Ep: 41: Memories of Murder
Can you tell a monster? Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the meticulous craft of the murder mystery story, the consequences of police brutality, and the aesthetics of evil, in Bong Joon Ho’s Memories of Murder.Start exploring the riches of cinema with a 30-day extended free trial of MUBI at mubi.com/cinemaofmeaningGet ad-free episodes a week early and access to a monthly bonus episode on Nebula: https://nebula.tv/cinemaofmeaning (Signing up using our link supports the podcast).Become part of the Cinema of Meaning community by supporting us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/cinemaofmeaningCheck us out on YouTube:Thomas Flight: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThomasFlightLike Stories of Old: https://youtube.com/c/LikeStoriesofOldCinema of Meaning: https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaofmeaningCheck us out on Nebula:Thomas Flight: https://nebula.tv/thomasflightLike Stories of Old: https://nebula.tv/lsooCinema of Meaning: https://nebula.tv/cinemaofmeaningFollow us:Cinema of Meaning: https://twitter.com/CinemaofMeaningTom van der Linden https://twitter.com/Tom_LSOOThomas Flight https://twitter.com/thomasflightSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dec 1, 2022 • 56min
Ep. 40: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the implications of Wakanda entering the world stage and upsetting the global status quo, Marvel’s reluctance to really dig into revolutionary and post-colonial politics, and the struggle to continue the Black Panther story after the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman, in Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.Get ad-free episodes a week early and access to a monthly bonus episode on Nebula: https://nebula.tv/cinemaofmeaning (Signing up using our link supports the podcast).Become part of the Cinema of Meaning community by supporting us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/cinemaofmeaningCheck us out on YouTube:Thomas Flight: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThomasFlightLike Stories of Old: https://youtube.com/c/LikeStoriesofOldCinema of Meaning: https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaofmeaningCheck us out on Nebula:Thomas Flight: https://nebula.tv/thomasflightLike Stories of Old: https://nebula.tv/lsooCinema of Meaning: https://nebula.tv/cinemaofmeaningFollow us:Cinema of Meaning: https://twitter.com/CinemaofMeaningTom van der Linden https://twitter.com/Tom_LSOOThomas Flight https://twitter.com/thomasflightSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 24, 2022 • 45min
Ep. 39: Harakiri
Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the harm that happens when principles turn into empty facades, how they nevertheless can become entrenched in existing power dynamics, and to what extent individuals can stand up to them, in Masaki Kobayashi’s Harakiri.Start exploring the riches of cinema with a 30 day extended free trial of MUBI at mubi.com/cinemaofmeaningGet ad-free episodes a week early and access to a monthly bonus episode on Nebula: https://nebula.tv/cinemaofmeaning (Signing up using our link supports the podcast).Become part of the Cinema of Meaning community by supporting us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/cinemaofmeaningCheck us out on YouTube:Thomas Flight: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThomasFlightLike Stories of Old: https://youtube.com/c/LikeStoriesofOldCinema of Meaning: https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaofmeaningCheck us out on Nebula:Thomas Flight: https://nebula.tv/thomasflightLike Stories of Old: https://nebula.tv/lsooCinema of Meaning: https://nebula.tv/cinemaofmeaningFollow us:Cinema of Meaning: https://twitter.com/CinemaofMeaningTom van der Linden https://twitter.com/Tom_LSOOThomas Flight https://twitter.com/thomasflightSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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