Seventh Row podcast
The Seventh Row podcast is a weekly podcast in which we compare and contrast films to discover new insights and context for (mostly foreign and independent) films both new and old. Our panel always features at least 50% women, and is a combination of critics, film lovers, and academics.
Episodes from the last six months are free; older episodes and bonus weekly episodes are available to members only.
Seventh Row editors build on each other’s ideas for greater insights, a team effort that we invite you to join. An episode accompanies every ebook, and we cover other films, too!
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Going deep on contemporary film through collaborative discussions
Latest episodes
Ep. 78: Sundance 2021, Part 1
This week we begin our discussion of the best and worst of Sundance 2021
Ep. 77: Deep Blue Sea(s)
On this episode we discuss two versions of Terence Ratigan’s 1952 play, The Deep Blue Sea.
Ep. 76: Abderrahmane Sissako’s Bamako and Timbuktu
On this episode we look at two of Malian director Abderrahmane Sissako’s films, the newly restored Bamako, and one of our favourite films of the 2010s, Timbuktu. We also discuss locating African cinema and challenges in distribution and preservation.
Ep. 75: Portrayals of disability in Sound of Metal and Blind
Sound of Metal & Blind take different approaches to disability. We discuss the formula of the disability melodrama & more on this podcast.
Ep. 74: Best of 2020
Seventh Row editors Alex Heeney and Orla Smith discuss the best films of 2020, with help from some special guests.
Ep. 73: Explorations of rape culture in Promising Young Woman and The Assistant
This week on the podcast we discuss two explorations of rape culture that approach the topic in very different way. We look at Emerald Fennell’s stylish revenge thriller Promising Young Woman and Kitty Green’s The Assistant, a portrait of a young woman working in a misogynistic office environment.
Ep. 72: Steve McQueen’s Small Axe
To cover Steve McQueen’s ambitious Small Axe series, we have assembled one of our most ambitious episodes of the year. We discuss each film (or episode?) of McQueen’s series.
Ep 71: The Crown Season Four
On this episode, we look back on Season Four of The Crown and compare it to other key episodes from past seasons
Ep. 70: Are men OK? Masculinity, mental health, & addiction in Another Round and Oslo, August 31st
We delve into one of the best films of the year, Another Round, and the best film of the last decade, Oslo, August 31st, and their depiction on men’s mental health and addiction.
Ep. 69: Paddington and Paddington 2
On this week’s episode, we discuss why our hearts were warmed by the wonderful Paddington films. Our answers are wild and spurred much debate, particularly around marmalade.
Ep. 68: Mothers struggling with addiction in Hillbilly Elegy and Down to the Bone
In this episode we compare the new awards bait film Hillbilly Elegy to a more empathetic, politically conscious portrait of a mother struggling with addiction: Debra Granik’s 2004 debut, Down to the Bone.
Ep. 67: Frederick Wiseman’s Ex Libris and City Hall
Frederick Wiseman’s long career exploring the functions of American institutions continues with his recent City Hall. On this episode, we contrast it with Ex Libris, considering how Wiseman’s films differ when looking at systems which function well and systems which are not working.