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Alain de Botton, Son of Saul, Josie Rourke and Nick Payne, Jazz biopics

Alain de Botton on The Course of Love, a review of Holocaust film Son of Saul, playwright Nick Payne and director Josie Rourke on Elegy, and Kevin Le Gendre on the jazz biopic.

Alain de Botton discusses his first novel in twenty years. The Course of Love centres on the story of a couple called Rabih and Kirsten who meet, fall in love, and get married. The philosopher, author and presenter tells John why he wanted to explore the later chapters of a relationship, and why he has taken such a long break from fiction.

The Hungarian feature film Son of Saul closely follows one inmate of the Auschwitz concentration camp who is a member of the Sonderkommando, responsible for disposing of the bodies of the victims murdered in the gas chambers. Jason Solomons reviews the film that won the Oscar and the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film this year, as well as the Grand Prix at Cannes.

Playwright Nick Payne and director Josie Rourke discuss the inspiration behind Elegy, a new play set in a world where medical advances mean that life can be extended at the expense of our memories.

With Miles Ahead, starring Don Cheadle as jazz master Miles Davies, currently in our cinemas, and film depictions of Nina Simone and Chet Baker on the way; the music journalist and self-professed jazzhead, Kevin Le Gendre explores the challenges of the jazz movie.

Presenter: John Wilson
Producer: Ella-mai Robey

Main image: Alain de Botton Image credit: Vincent Starr.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • Alain de Botton

    Duration: 08:07

  • Son of Saul

    Duration: 06:16

  • Josie Rourke and Nick Payne

    Duration: 07:54

  • Jazz biopics

    Duration: 05:36

Alain de Botton

Alain de Botton’s Ìýbook,Ìý, is published on the 28th ÌýApril 2016 by Hamish Hamilton.Ìý

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Son of Saul

Son of Saul
Son of Saul (certÌý 15)Ìý is released in the UK on 29 April
Photo:Ìý Géza Röhrig (Saul).Ìý Courtesy:ÌýÌý Curzon Artificial Eye

Nick Payne and Josie Rourke

Nick Payne and Josie Rourke

Elegy, written by Nick Payne, directed by Josie Rourke and starring Barbara Flynn, Nina Sosanya and Zoe Wanamaker is at the until 18 June 2016.
Image:Ìý Nick Payne and Josie Rourke.Ìý Credit:Ìý Helen Maybanks

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Challenges of the jazz biopic

Challenges of the jazz biopic

(cert 15)Ìý is in on release nationwide now.Ìý ‘Nina’ and ‘Born Blue’ will be released later this year.Ìý

Picture:Ìý Don Cheadle as Miles Davis in ‘Miles Ahead’.Ìý (c) Icon Film Distribution

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter John Wilson
Interviewed Guest Alain de Botton
Interviewed Guest Jason Solomons
Interviewed Guest Nick Payne
Interviewed Guest Josie Rourke
Interviewed Guest Kevin Le Gendre
Producer Ellamai Robey

Broadcast

  • Tue 26 Apr 2016 19:15

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