Yum Cha Chats: Emanuel Satie breaks down thought-provoking moments from the screen

Sunday’s are hard but can be made easier with unexpected delights — so here’s some fluff to get you through it. Inspired by a recent jaunt for dim sum with Miss Yellow in Hong Kong, allow us to present the first of many Yum Cha Chats — which means let’s go eat dim sum and drink tea in Cantonese. The series will dig into the obscure and tasty 'fillings' you never knew about your favourite DJs and have nothing to do with music — every Sunday. Best enjoyed from bed…

We all need to fill our time with something valuable while stuck at home, especially for DJs who can’t tour right now. Emanuel Satie is one of those DJs and producers who’s been making valuable time out of his studio, but also in front of the screen, where thought-provoking and inspiring films have kept his mind and spirit preoccupied in a progressive way. The Berlin-based producer has built up a solid reputation for his work which has landed him releases on Cocoon, Crosstown Rebels, Defected and Rebirth. His most recent endeavour is a stunning remix for Maya Jane Coles ‘Nocturnal Sunshine’ which you can listen to here. When you’re done listening, you can check out his list of five inspiring films to watch during lockdown.

“It is an obvious pick as it has just won the Oscar for Best Picture, but it is my favorite movie from last year by far and has got a couple rewatches during quarantine. The film is socially critical but does it in such a humorous way and with such twisted, lovely characters that it doesn’t only make you think, it’s also extremely fun to watch. By the way, Parasite is the first non-American movie to win the main prize at the Oscars.”

“Tarantino is one of my favorite movie makers and he delivered another stellar film last year with Once Upon A Time... it’s an almost 3 hour long epic, but when do we have the time for it if not now? The movie plays in the time of the Charles Manson cult and is a slow ride for about 2,5 hours, only to shock you with a spectacular ending in typical Tarantino fashion. I watched the movie on a plane for the first time and screamed laughing so hard at the ending that numerous people turned around giving me an irritated look.”

“A beautifully animated movie playing in future Japan where a pandemic amongst dogs is spreading. The dogs are being banished into isolation on an island and one brave boy is coming to the rescue. The movie came out in 2019, so before the COVID-19 outbreak but it feels strangely connected to what’s happening now. If you need a heartwarming movie with stunning visuals, give this one a try.”

“It’s not always easy staying motivated in times of isolation — when in need of motivation watch this documentary about the free climber Alex Honnold. In the movie he climbs a 1000m rock without any assistance or safety precautions. Always one mistake away from falling, he succeeds eventually, only to start immediately training for the next climb once he’s back on base. If Alex can do that, we can do home office, wear masks, wash our hands and stay positive.”

“For my final movie I chose a classic from 1968. As a kid my father introduced me to the Italo Western genre and this one stuck in my mind for the longest time. An important part of why I love this movie so much is the excellent soundtrack by composer Ennio Morricone. He is a master of creating memorable themes for each character in the movie and used a lot of unusual elements in his music like cracking whips, shots fired etc. Ennio Morricone just passed away at age 91 this month... it’s a good time to remember him by watching one of the movies he sound tracked. One of the most influential composers of our time.”