new episodes every OTHER MONDAY!

Every other Monday, we explore masterworks from the Criterion Collection and beyond—unpacking their artistry, historical context, and lasting influence.

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Episode 01 - SEVEN SAMURAI (1954)
AKIRA KUROSAWA, JAPANESE CINEMA, SAMURAI MOVIE
Episode 01 - SEVEN SAMURAI (1954)
AKIRA KUROSAWA, JAPANESE CINEMA, SAMURAI MOVIE

Akira Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai" changed cinema forever. In this inaugural episode of Beyond the Spine, we explore what it took to create this masterpiece—and why it still matters seven decades later.

AKIRA KUROSAWA, JAPANESE CINEMA, SAMURAI MOVIE
Episode 00 - Prologue
AKIRA KUROSAWA, JAPANESE CINEMA, SAMURAI MOVIE
Episode 00 - Prologue
AKIRA KUROSAWA, JAPANESE CINEMA, SAMURAI MOVIE

Late 1920s. Tokyo. A darkened theater.

A benshi performs—his voice transforming silent images into living art. He's a star. People don't come just for the film. They come for him. Every night, watching from the audience, is his younger brother. Mesmerized.

AKIRA KUROSAWA, JAPANESE CINEMA, SAMURAI MOVIE

TUNE IN:

★★★★★

“I always felt intimidated by 'important' films, but this podcast makes them feel vital and exciting rather than homework. Quentin's enthusiasm is infectious, and he explains the context without being pretentious”

Rachel K.
Aspiring Cinephile

★★★★★

“Beyond the Spine doesn't talk down to you or rely on surface-level takes. Quentin brings genuine scholarly rigor to each episode while keeping the conversation engaging and accessible.”

Sarah M.
Film Studies Professor

★★★★★

“This is the podcast I've been waiting for. Someone who actually understands the Criterion ethos, not just reviewing films, but exploring why they matter. The historical depth, the technical knowledge, the obvious love for the medium... it's all there. Essential listening.”

David L.
Criterion Collection Collector

Quentin B.

My goal is simple: make you care about these films the way I do, and give you the context to understand why they refuse to fade.

I'm French, which means I grew up where cinema is taken seriously—not as background noise, but as something worth arguing about. By day, I co-founded a creative agency and spent years scaling businesses, but film has always been the real obsession. Beyond the Spine is what happens when that obsession needs an outlet.

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