Hello Reader,

There's a persistent myth that the best way to watch movies that you'll enjoy is to watch what's already in your well-established wheelhouse.

The last thing you want to do is take a risk on an unknown quantity that you might not like.

I 100% understand this. You only have so much free time, and you want the movies you watch to count.

But here's the truth: One of the best highs you can get from cinema is when you discover a film you wouldn't have otherwise watched and didn't expect to like...but actually loved!

It's like unlocking a door you didn't even know was there, behind which there's even more to love and discover.

Fourteen years ago, I almost missed seeing this tiny Norwegian film called Oslo, August 31st. I thought, "Why on earth would I want to watch a film about 24 hours in the life of a suicidal heroin addict in Oslo?"

And yet, miraculously, it felt like this movie was made just for me. It's become part of my identity, and I'm even writing a book on the director.

But I came so close to never opening the door to this film that would change my life!

What cinematic doors are you ready to unlock?

Of course, every movie can't be your Oslo, August 31st, but every film that lingers with you is a little cinematic burst of joy to treasure.

It's a delight Nurri has experienced repeatedly in Reel Ruminators.

Still, not every movie can be a hit with everyone.

And if you join us in Reel Ruminators this month, you might not fall head over heels for this month's film.

But here's what Nancy wants you to know about the films she's watched in Reel Ruminators:

Part of the fun of the live discussion is learning about how the film worked for some people and not others -- and finding more to appreciate about the film, regardless of your initial response.

As Michael told me about a past Reel Ruminators film, "I liked the movie even more after we discussed it."

If you join us for the April 2025 edition of Reel Ruminators...

We'll be watching an Indigenous film from so-called Canada directed by an Indigenous woman.

To my knowledge, no other feature film has addressed this hot-button issue from an Indigenous perspective. And this film does so very sensitively.

How often can you say that you've been dropped into a world where settlers barely factor into the story (although settler colonialism casts a long shadow)?

And if you are a settler, when have you ever been invited into an entirely Indigenous space where your positionality as a settler didn't affect the interaction?

That's the magic of cinema! This film gives you access to those spaces!

But beyond the film's subject matter...

This is an expertly and creatively crafted film that finds a cinematic language for life's contradictions.

How do you make a movie about how incredible joy and pain can coexist?

How do you tell a story about Indigenous communities' strength and resilience without downplaying the real threats to these communities?

How do you tell a story about how the people most in need of lifting up in your community are the ones lifting up others?

This film does all of that! And in the discussion, we'll delve into how the film does this, including how it juxtaposes sound and image.

This film is a masterclass in juxtaposition.

It's also a film that hits you in the feels...in the best way

Everyone I've previously shared this month's movie with has loved it.

Many (including me!) have even had their worldview changed by it, even if, like me, they went in mostly sharing its politics.

That's why I think it's one of the most important films of this decade, if not this century.​

And that's why I've programmed it as the movie of the month in Reel Ruminators.

If you join us in Reel Ruminators, by the time we wrap on April 30, you’ll have:

• Watched one of the most important movies of this decade that might have passed under your radar
• Shared and listened to ideas and reflections about the film with movie lovers who are eager to hear yours and share theirs
• Deepened your appreciation of this particular film and cinema as an art form
• Brought back the excitement and adventure of watching movies — and reconnected to how movies can relieve stress rather than cause stress

Here’s what you get:

• Title of the movie of the month
• Intel on where to stream it
• Video introduction to the film
• Resources to help you think through your response to the film
• Resources to learn more about the making of the film and the cultural context of the film
• A 90-minute facilitated discussion on Zoom on April 27 at 2 p.m. ET, including guided activities that will attune you to filmmaking details (e.g., frame composition, juxtaposition of sound and image, editing), whether you’re a casual movie lover or a film expert

Because we watch a different movie in Reel Ruminators each month, April is the only opportunity to watch and discuss this movie.

​Click here to join the April 2025 Edition of Reel Ruminators ($30 USD)​

See you at the end of April for the discussion!

Alex

PS. If you have any questions about whether this is a good fit for you right now, please hit reply and ask! I’m on the other side of this email.

P.P.S. Need more info? You can find additional details about Reel Ruminators here.