James Litchfield and Tilda Cobham-Hervey on the set of Alphabet Lane.

Welcome to the latest episode of the Cinema Australia Podcast.

This episode is a special one for me because I finally had an opportunity to interview Tilda Cobham-Hervey, an actor who I have long-admired, and whose name has been on my interview bucket list for many years. 

It was also special to interview James Litchfield, the writer and director of Alphabet Lane – a film that I can’t seem to shake. I’ve seen it twice since I first watched it a few weeks ago, and it gets better on every viewing. 

I don’t want to give away too much about the film’s plot, but Alphabet Lane follows an isolated couple, Anna, played by Tilda, and Jack, played by Nicholas Denton, who lose control of a joke about imaginary friends. 

If you haven’t seen the film yet, I recommend watching it, then coming back to this podcast episode to avoid any spoilers. 

Listening back on this recording, I’m now wondering if I took the film’s narrative more seriously than I should have. Is it a much lighter than I interpreted it to be? Have others found the relationship dynamics between Anna and Jack as dark as I have? I would love to know your opinions on the film, so feel free to comment on this post and let me know. 

Nicholas Denton in Alphabet Lane.

Tilda doesn’t need much of an introduction, having appeared in a ton of films and television shows since her breakout performance in Sophie Hydes 52 Tuesdays in 2013. Tilda has since stared in Girl Asleep, The Kettering Incident, Barracuda, I Am Woman, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart and Apple Cider Vinegar. She has also directed and co-directed short films, and recently directed her first feature film, It’s All Going Very Well… which will be released soon. 

James is a writer and director from Cooma, NSW with a Master’s graduate of Melbourne’s VCA. He has made several shorts, most of which are characterised by a quiet humour, a sense of mystery, and a grappling with meaning and anxiety, and has a few feature film scripts currently in development with Joe Films. He is an EP on The Northern Run, a rodeo documentary currently in post-production with GoodThing Productions for the ABC.

Anyway… enjoy.

Alphabet Lane will screen at the Gold Coast Film Festival this Thursday, 23 April, on the same day the film officially releases in cinemas around the country. Check out Alphabet Lane’s social pages for full screening details.

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