A warm, funny, hopeful film — from Palestine


Hello Reader,

This June, you’re invited to watch a story about identity and family — where politics show up in relationships, not speeches.

Nothing traumatic happens on screen.

Instead, you get duty and ritual, love and relationships — and the kind of arguments you only have with the people who know you best.

Why I chose it:

  • It’s short — just 1h36m, easy to fit in
  • It’s feel-good and thoughtful — goes down easy, stays with you
  • It’s not streamable in North America — but the director has permitted me to share it
  • It’s a rare film by a Palestinian woman beyond her debut — polished, perceptive, and hard to find
  • The direction is subtle but assured — nothing flashy, but every choice is thoughtful. A chance to notice the kind of nuance that often slips by

Most people walk away talking about the characters — and rightly so.

But if you’re up for it, we’ll also unpack what’s happening beneath the surface: how it’s made, what it reveals, and what it asks of us as viewers.

Here’s what you’ll get inside Reel Ruminators:

  • One standout film each month — chosen for craft, story, and perspective
  • Just enough context to help you feel grounded — so you’re not watching from the outside, unsure what you're missing
  • Gentle guidance to help you notice what matters — and space to reflect in your own way
  • The option to go deeper — with reflection prompts, a live discussion on Zoom, and further resources if you want them

There’s no one way to participate.

You can take it all in on your own time, join the live discussion, or catch the replay later.

Whatever pace or depth works for you — you're welcome here.

“Most of the Reel Ruminators films have been such a discovery for me and aren’t films I would have necessarily chosen to watch on my own. It’s opened me up to new types of films that I really like.
One of the films that really lingered with me a lot…I saw the trailer and thought, I would not have watched this if I were just alone… and what a loss that would have been!
Everyone has a different way of watching movies and of expressing their thoughts about the movie — even if it’s expressing a similar feeling. Sometimes, other members have had a whole different perspective that I wouldn’t have thought about at all, and it’s fantastic.”
- Nurri Kim, Reel Ruminators member

This isn’t just about watching a great film. It’s about what happens when you have space to sit with it, understand it more deeply, and see it through others’ eyes, too.

👉 Click here to learn more or join us for June

Cheers,

Alex

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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