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My Favourite Movies | Sebástian Lelio: ‘Yes, I was a huge fan of Steven Spielberg’s E.T.’

Hot Corn’s column in which musicians, actors, artists, directors tell us about their favourite movies

Having made a name for himself in his home nation of Chile, recently auteur Sebástian Lelio has made the transition into English language films with ease, with both Disobedience and Gloria Bell. When in London, we sat down with him to present him with a whole new challenge: of running through his very favourite movies.

What’s the first film you ever fell in love with? Steven Spielberg’s E.T. I mean, the character is called Elliot and my last name is Lelio, so I was like ‘it’s Lelio!”. I identified so much with him, and I’ve always believed that there is more life in the Universe, so this film was really dealing with that with such eloquence that I was just a huge fan. I was a kid, you know.

This image alone makes us feel so nostalgic

What’s the one film you never get tired of watching?2001: A Space Odyssey. You can watch it over and over again and it’s always telling you new things, revealing new information. It’s indistinguishable.

Lelio isn’t the first person to cite this film in this very answer

What’s your favourite soundtrack? There are so many, but probably Elevator to the Gallows, by Miles Davis.

What’s your guilty pleasure? Well I don’t really believe in guilty pleasures, I believe in pleasure. Because if you like something, you like it. You know, for example the soundtrack in Gloria Bell. It could be understood as a guilty pleasure, but no, it’s not cynical, those are songs I really love for some reason. But understanding the spirit of the words that you’re saying – Flashdance [laughs].

Great film. Lelio knows.

What’s the one scene that always makes you cry? Oh, Kramer vs Kramer when he helps his kid with the bicycle, and realises he can ride it without the little wheels. That destroys me, every time I see it…

Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep in Kramer vs. Kramer

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