Seventh Row Podcast

Alice Winocur’s Proxima uses the astronaut film to show how mothers in professional setting have to both prove themselves in male-dominated environments and be a caring, supportive mom. This topic is somewhat rare on screen, bringing to mind the 1987 hidden gem Baby Boom.

Many of the best recent Canadian films tell stories about young adults. This episode features YA fiction expert Joe Lipsett as we discuss what counts as YA, what is unique about Canadian YA films, and focus on six great films.

Matthew Warchus’ innovative split-screen version of filmed Old Vic live performance of Lungs reminded us of another relationship two-hander presented in split screen, Hans Canosa’s 2005 film Conversations With Other Women.

Editor-in-Chief Alex Heeney and Executive Editor Orla Smith (plus special guests) discuss the best films so far in one of cinema’s most unusual years.

This episode previews the exciting contents of our new ebook, Roads to nowhere: Kelly Reichardt’s broken American dreams. Associate Editor Brett Pardy interviews Editor-in-Chief Alex Heeney and Executive Editor Orla Smith about the process of creating the book and explore the book section by section.

This episode highlights a session from our Lockdown Film School with writer-directors Mina Shum and Philippe Falardeau. In it, the two discuss their craft, compare notes on process, and discuss how they were inspired by each other.

Anne Émond is one of the most exciting Canadian directors working today and deserves wider international attention. Her films play with time and genre as they explore the connection between the physical and the emotional aspects of her characters.

Josephine Decker’s new film Shirley is the latest in the recent trend of films re-examining the lives of women artists, in the process questioning our ideas of history and truth. Join us for a wild ride exploring the connections between Shirley, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, The Souvenir, Wild Nights With Emily, and many more.

Take This Waltz and Paper Year are two standout Canadian films exploring the end of a marriage with empathy and emotional complexity. We discuss the film’s complex characters, considerate direction, and Canadianess

This episode compares recent hit Normal People and site favourite On Chesil Beach, which both feature couples failing to communicate.

This episode compares two political satires about nations on the bring of war, Armando Iannucci’s modern classic In the Loop and Canadian unseen gem Philippe Falardeau’s My Internship in Canada.

This episode is on Stories We Tell, Louder Than Bombs, and Mouthpiece, formally expressive explorations of grief, memory, and subjectivity.