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Pedro Almodovar on I'm So Excited; Tom Courtenay on Billy Liar; Riz Ahmed's big break

Director Pedro Almodovar tells Francine Stock his raunchy new comedy I'm So Excited is a commentary on Spanish politics. Actor Tom Courtenay looks back at Billy Liar, 50 years on.

The Spanish director Pedro Almodovar talks to Francine Stock about his raunchy new comedy I'm So Excited in which a plane with a technical fault circles the skies, hoping to find an airport to land in. According to Almodovar, it's a metaphor for the political and financial difficulties facing Spain.
Adam Leon explains why he wanted to show the grittier, real New York in his new feature Gimme The Loot about young graffiti artists. And how he deals with questions over how a white director can make a convincing film about a predominantly black scene.
The actor Tom Courtenay, seen most recently in Quartet, looks back at Billy Liar, 50 years on. Directed by John Schlesinger, and co-starring Julie Christie, the film portrays Billy, a dreamer working in an undertakers and planning escape.
And with The Reluctant Fundamentalist due for release next week, the young British actor Riz Ahmed tells the story of his big break and how he was discovered by the director Michael Winterbottom.
Producer: Elaine Lester.

Available now

28 minutes

Clip

Chapters

  • Tom Courtenay on Billy Liar

    From The Film Programme archive, the actor looks back at Billy Liar 50 years on.

    Duration: 07:56

Credits

Role Contributor
Producer Elaine Lester
Presenter Francine Stock
Interviewed Guest Pedro AlmdΓ³var
Interviewed Guest Tom Courtenay

Broadcasts

  • Thu 2 May 2013 16:00
  • Sun 5 May 2013 23:00

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