40 years ago on May 25, the first Star Wars movie was released. Relive the excitement of the release of Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi through a 1983 review and interviews with the director and C-3PO on WTTW's Sneak Previews.
Playlist Culture
Culture
"Confrontation and Chaos": Frontline's Michael Kirk on 'Bannon's War'
“I think Trump really likes the internal struggle between all of his people,” veteran Frontline producer Michael Kirk says. "I think the constant so far, that I’ve seen, is that this thing that we call Bannonism is alive and well."
America Hears Itself
In the 1920s, homegrown American musicians recorded songs that became foundational in the development of American music, from country to blues to Cajun.The filmmaker of American Epic discusses those musicians and his documentary.
'Forever Pure:' The Nationalism of an Israeli Football Team
Forever Pure follows the story of Israel's most popular and controversial football team, the only club to never sign an Arab, when it signs two Muslim players from Chechnya. Filmmaker Maya Zinshtein discusses the documentary.
The Human Impact of Drone Warfare
The documentary National Bird shows the effect of drone warfare on the pilots operating the drones as well as the victims of strikes. "The impact of these military drones goes far beyond just killing a civilian," says the documentary's director Sonia Kennebeck.
What's Taboo? Nothing, for These Comedians
Monday, April 24 at 10:00 pm, Independent Lens: The Last Laugh explores what's taboo in comedy, focusing on the Holocaust. Meet some of the controversial and transgressive comedians who appear in the film, including Mel Brooks and Sarah Silverman.
The Executive Producer of 'Frontline' on Journalism's Challenges Today
Raney Aronson-Rath believes that, for all its difficulties, the current period is "a golden age for serious journalism." The newest Frontline, The Fish on My Plate, airs Tuesday, April 25 at 10:00 pm.
Gounod's 'Roméo et Juliette' at the Met
On Friday, April 14 at 9:00 pm, watch the Met's production of Gounod's Roméo et Juliette on Great Performances. Revisit an interview with the director Bartlett Sher by our sister station WFMT from his time in Chicago in which he discusses Shakespeare and opera, and explore photos of the production.
World War I in Works of Art
April 6 marked the 100th anniversary of the United States' entry into World War I. The dance film Young Men dramatizes the effect of that war on the soldiers who fought in it. Explore other works of art that have grappled with the Great War.
Grief and Resilience in 'Newtown'
Filmmaker Kim A. Snyder discusses her film about the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. “I simply think it’s important to give these people a voice and to bear witness."
International Women's Day
Revisit exceptional women from Nora Ephron to Oprah, Christie Hefner to Maya Angelou, and all three Brontë sisters, with archival interviews, a countrified trivia quiz, explorations of historical figures, and more.
The "Rich Tapestry" of "Chicago Voices"
Meet the stellar local talents who performed in Lyric Opera of Chicago's "Chicago Voices" concert. From opera to blues, gospel to rap, the gamut of Chicago's diverse musical styles is covered by Shemekia Copeland, John Prine, Lupe Fiasco, and more.
The Executive Producer of 'PBS NewsHour' on Media in the Age of Trump
"It's our job to hold power accountable. We did that before this White House, and we'll continue to do it." Sara Just discusses the role of long-form journalism in an era of fake news and antagonism towards traditional media.
The Brontë Family and the Actors Who Portray Them
To Walk Invisible: The Brontë Sisters, which aired Sunday, explores the lives of the authors of Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and Agnes Grey. Do the actors in the film look like the people that they play?
Architect Robert Adam: A Place at the Table
Explore the work and style of the 2017 Driehaus Prize-winning architect Robert Adam in WTTW's new documentary and website. Watch web-exclusive interviews, absorb Adam's striking buildings through photos, and learn more about the career of this modern traditionalist.
