Programme Details

Mary Allen discusses the latest novel from one of America 's greatest writers - Philip Roth - who is enjoying an astonishing late flowering of fiction in his seventies. His latest book is a rewriting of American history, as the real life character of aviation hero Charles Lindbergh defeats Franklin Roosevelt to become president of the United States .
The Plot against America explores what happens when America falls to isolationist and pro-Nazi powers. Christopher Bigsby, Professor of American Studies at the University of East Anglia , talks about the book and about Roth's impact on American literature.

The Chinese martial arts film Hero (from the same producers Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and the adventure yarn Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law) are both new films which rely on computer generated imagery. Sky Captain claims to represent a trailblazing moment in cinematic history, with thousands of effects shots and using live action filmed against a blue screen and overlaid with computerised imagery. Mary Allen and guests - critic Tim Robey and film historian Ian Christie - discuss the ever expanding use of technology on film and its impact on cinema goers. 

And Mary Allen talks to the film director Ken Loach about his latest Glasgow based feature film, Ae Fond Kiss, a troubled love story about an Irish girl and a boy from a second generation family of Pakistani origin. Has Ken Loach gone soft and lost the tough political touch for which he is so famous?



Presenter: Mary Allen
Producer: Anthony Denselow