Mumblecore Unmasked: Dr. Maria San Filippo Deciphers Its Authentic Core

Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, & Movements

In this episode of Cinema Scope, Andy Nelson and his guest Dr. Maria San Filippo, a professor at Emerson College, explore the raw, unfiltered world of Mumblecore cinema. This fiercely authentic movement emerged in the early 2000s, trading polished production for unvarnished intimacy. With handheld cameras, skeletal budgets, and a fearless commitment to capturing the messy realities of everyday life, Mumblecore has redefined the boundaries of independent cinema.

The Digital Revolution and the Rise of Mumblecore

The digital revolution played a crucial role in the emergence of Mumblecore. Affordable digital cameras, editing software, and platforms like YouTube democratized the filmmaking process, allowing Mumblecore pioneers to showcase their work and gain recognition.

Mumblecore as Radical Rom-Coms

Mumblecore films depict relationships as they really are, not as the wish-fulfillment fantasies often portrayed in Hollywood rom-coms. Characters grapple with real-life issues, making the films relatable and authentic.

Throughout the episode, Andy and Maria discuss five essential Mumblecore films: Funny Ha Ha, The Puffy Chair, Hannah Takes the Stairs, Quiet City, and Francis Ha. They examine how these films embody the core components of Mumblecore, from improvised dialogue to the exploration of millennial angst.

Exclusive Member Content: Five More Must-See Mumblecore Films

For Cinema Scope members, the conversation continues with five additional Mumblecore films that push the boundaries of the movement: Medicine for Melancholy, Humpday, Tiny Furniture, Appropriate Behavior, and Tangerine. Become a member for just $5 per month or $55 per year to access this bonus content and support the show. Visit trustory.fm/join to unlock a deeper understanding of Mumblecore cinema.

Join Andy and Maria as they explore the raw, honest, and sometimes cringey world of Mumblecore, and discover how these films have left an indelible mark on independent cinema.

Film Sundries

• Visit Maria’s Website
• Follow Maria on Twitter, Instagram or YouTube
• Recommended and Discussed Movies
  • Funny Ha Ha on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
  • The Puffy Chair on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
  • Hannah Takes the Stairs on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
  • Quiet City on Amazon, and JustWatch
  • Frances Ha on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
  • Medicine for Melancholy on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
  • Humpday on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
  • Tiny Furniture on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
  • Appropriate Behavior on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
  • Tangerine on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
• Our Letterboxd List
• Check out our conversations about Lynn Shelton in our series on The Next Reel

More About Dr. Maria San Filippo

Maria San Filippo holds a PhD in Cinema and Media Studies from UCLA, and is Associate Professor of Visual and Media Arts at Emerson College. She authored the Lambda Literary Award-winning The B Word: Bisexuality in Contemporary Film and Television (2013) and ‘Provocauteurs’ and Provocations: Screening Sex in 21st Century Media (2021), both published by Indiana University Press, and edited the collection After ‘Happily Ever After’: Romantic Comedy in the Post-Romantic Age (Wayne State University Press, 2021). Her most recent book, a Queer Film Classics volume on Desiree Akhavan’s Appropriate Behavior, was published in 2022 by McGill-Queen’s University Press and was also honored with a Lambda Literary Award. From 2020-2023 she served as Editor in Chief of New Review of Film and Television Studies.

• (00:00) - Welcome to Cinema Scope • Mumblecore
• (02:34) - Meet Maria San Filippo
• (04:56) - Mumblecore Origins
• (16:00) - Mumblecore Aesthetics
• (17:20) - New Film Movement
• (20:03) - Core Components
• (29:13) - Mumblecore’s Own Subgenres
• (31:28) - Funny Ha Ha
• (40:24) - The Puffy Chair
• (49:38) - Hannah Takes the Stairs
• (01:03:26) - Quiet City
• (01:13:43) - Frances Ha
• (01:20:51) - Mumblecore’s Evolution and Post Mumblecore
• (01:24:46) - ...