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Seventh Row

Seventh Row is a nonprofit Canadian film criticism publication and publishing house. We're dedicated to helping you expand your horizons by curating the best socially progressive films from around the world and helping you think deeply about them. This newsletter is run by Seventh Row (http://seventh-row.com) but features exclusive content not found on the website.

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Happy 10-year anniversary to Sciamma's Girlhood!

Hello Reader, Ten years ago today, Céline Sciamma's Girlhood had its world premiere as the opening night film at the Cannes Film Festival in the Director's Fortnight section. I was there! And I knew I was seeing something very special. Fast-forward half a year, and I interviewed Sciamma about the film at Sundance. You can read the full 2015 interview is in our book Portraits of resistance: The Cinema of Céline Sciamma. Here's an excerpt that was life-changing for me. I think it's a profound...

4 days ago • 1 min read

Hello Reader, The Cannes Film Festival kicked off today. Greta Gerwig is presiding over the Jury this year, making it the rare year that a woman director is actually in charge of the game. She may have made the year's biggest box office grosser last year, but Gerwig's films have never screened at the festival. She's in good company. Most women directors (especially if they're not from France) can say the same. In the 1960s, fewer films by women screened in total across all sections than are...

5 days ago • 3 min read

Hello Reader. Josh O'Connor is one of the best actors of his generation. On this week's podcast on Challengers, we discussed how he and director Luca Guadagnino are the MVPs of the film. His performance elevates everyone else's. If you'd like to explore his work further, listen to our playlist of Josh O'Connor-related podcasts. From dramatic roles to comedic ones, period pieces to contemporary works, famous fictional characters to famous historical figures, Josh has already done it all. And...

9 days ago • 3 min read

Hello Reader, The fantastic 2021 production (and truly impressive recording) of The Tragedy of Macbeth starring Saoirse Ronan and James McArdle (of Angels in America fame) is streaming free on BBC iPlayer! Stream it before it disappears on Wednesday (UK Time) It's directed by Yaël Farber, who was also behind the Ruth Negga Hamlet (where are the tapes?!?) and the Richard Armitage The Crucible (which has been recorded and is available online). The production was originally recorded and streamed...

10 days ago • 3 min read

Hello Reader, In this episode, we discuss Luca Guadagnino’s new film Challengers (2024), which stars Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Seventh Row favourite Josh O’Connor as competitive tennis players and romantic rivals. Film critic and Katherine Hepburn obsessive Andrew Kendall joins host Alex Heeney for the episode. We are both Josh O’Connor super-fans and liked the film. But we had a lot of issues with it. We discuss why we can’t stop thinking about it and where it disappoints. Click here to...

11 days ago • 2 min read

Hello Reader, Here's a look at what we've published recently on Seventh Row + a preview of what's coming in May. Ep. 136: Nowhere Special with James Norton and Uberto Pasolini Published on April 26, 2024 On the podcast, Alex Heeney interviews Director Uberto Pasolini and James Norton about avoiding sentimentality and collaborating on their film Nowhere Special (2020). Alex also offers her take on why you should go out of your way to see the film. Listen here... Film Review: Caitlin...

13 days ago • 3 min read

Hello Reader. Last weekend, I saw Challengers TWICE and haven't stopped thinking about it. That's largely thanks to the fantastic direction by Luca Guadagnino and Josh O'Connor's scene-stealing performance. Whether you've seen Challengers, are hyped for it, or are just wondering what all the fuss is about, now is a great time to revisit two seminal works by Guadagnino and O'Connor: Call Me by Your Name and God's Own Country. The books also make for a great gift for the Guadagnino-O'Connor...

15 days ago • 2 min read

Hello Reader, Thank you for subscribing to the paid version of The Globetrotting Watchlist, a monthly newsletter that helps you expand your cinematic horizons through streaming recommendations for the best socially progressive under-the-radar films worldwide. Your support helps us pay our expenses to keep Seventh Row, a non-profit, ad-free and online. May Edition - The Globetrotting Watchlist I'm recommending: Josh O'Connor x Luca Guadagnino: Extend the Challengers high with more films...

17 days ago • 6 min read

Hello Reader, Attention Filmmakers! Between now and May 15, I'm offering three lucky filmmakers a FREE consultation to develop a plan to get butts in seats for your film. Read on for details! (Not a filmmaker? Click here to opt out of emails for filmmakers.) You've agonized over what to make a movie about, plus where and how to shoot it. You've put your blood, sweat, and tears into getting the best equipment and crew. You're going to spend hours and hours and hours editing it into the perfect...

26 days ago • 2 min read

Hello Reader, This week, watch one of the best documentaries of the year by the filmmaker who inspired Seventh Row's thinking on creative nonfiction, Penny Lane: Confessions of a Good Samaritan. Virtual tickets are available WORLDWIDE until Monday at noon. The film is still seeking distribution, so this may be your only chance to see it for some time (or at all). Still of Penny Lane's desktop from Confessions of a Good Samaritan About Penny Lane Penny Lane has been a huge influence on how we...

about 1 month ago • 2 min read
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