A John Prine Appreciation

John Prine’s legacy as a seminal singer-songwriter takes center stage as the program honors his life and music on the eve of his 80th birthday. Prine reflects on his transition from a Chicago mailman to a celebrated artist, detailing how his early shyness, his discovery by critic Roger Ebert, and his battle with cancer shaped his creative voice and final recordings. The discussion emphasizes his unique ability to sketch complex characters and his collaborative songwriting process. Complementing this tribute, film critic Justin Chang reviews *Fjord*, a drama by director Cristian Mungiu. The film depicts a Romanian family in Norway caught in a legal battle over child abuse allegations, serving as a polarizing exploration of institutional power, cultural clashes, and the ambiguity of parental culpability in the face of state intervention.