How do films shape who we sympathise with — and who we judge?

Whenever we watch a film, we're making judgments about its characters. Who do we trust? Who do we sympathise with? Who do we think is in the wrong?

But how much of that is shaped by the choices filmmakers make?

Courtroom dramas offer a particularly fascinating way to explore this, because they make the act of judgment part of the story itself.

Courtroom dramas offer a particularly fascinating way to explore this, because they make the act of judgment part of the story itself.

Join me and small group of other film lovers from around the world for a free, interactive 75-minute event where we'll investigate how films position us to judge.

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We'll meet live on Zoom for 75 minutes on:

Thursday, November 19 at 2:30 pm ET

That's 7:30 pm UK / 8:30 pm Europe

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Here's what we'll be doing:

  • Watch the opening of Juror #2 and explore how the filmmaking shapes our first impressions and sympathies — before we even enter a courtroom. (No need to see the film before you come. There won't be spoilers.)
  • Consider why it matters what a film shows us before we get to court, and how that might influence the judgments we make.
  • Compare courtroom spaces from different films and explore how the way they're constructed and filmed affects what we feel about the people and institutions inside them.

Pop your email address below to join us:

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What to expect

This is not a lecture. We'll start by exploring what comes to mind when we think of courtroom dramas, then put some of those expectations to the test.

It's a space to think aloud and hear others do the same — together, we can build a much richer understanding of the film than any of us could alone. You'll have plenty of opportunities to share what you're seeing, but you're welcome to listen more than you speak.

You don't need to prepare anything or know anything about courtroom dramas.

Reserve your place

Hi, I'm Alex Heeney — film critic and educator.

I spend a lot of time watching films, thinking about the choices filmmakers make, and noticing the surprising things films have in common — or do completely differently.

One of my favourite things is bringing people together to think about films in ways they might not have considered before.

I don't believe you need to know film theory or have seen hundreds of movies to have something interesting to say about cinema.

I'll guide you through a series of activities to open up how you're thinking about courtroom dramas.

And we'll see where the conversation takes us.

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