Seventh Row editors Alex Heeney and Orla Smith discuss the best films of 2020, with help from some special guests.
Orla Smith podcast
Ep. 73: Promising Young Woman and The Assistant: Explorations of rape culture
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. 70: Another Round and Oslo, August 31st: Are men OK? Masculinity, mental health, & addiction
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: Hillbilly Elegy and Down to the Bone: Mothers struggling with addiction
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.