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.
What if your favourite movie is one you think isn't even for you?
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Hello Reader, Have you ever seen a movie that hit you so hard, so personally, that you felt like, "Someone reached into my brain and made a movie about my life"? That's how I feel about the film Oslo, August 31st, the film Seventh Row named the best film of the 2010s. It wasn't just a movie I loved, but one that would have substantial ripple effects on my life as a cinephile and critic. But I almost didn't see it. In fact, it sounded exactly like the kind of movie I was trying to avoid! Yet, I took a risk and saw it. And reaped the rewards for years to come. Since then, I've wondered: What allowed me to take a risk and see this movie? What can you do to make sure you don't miss your version of Oslo, August 31st? In the episode, I talk about how I came close to never seeing Oslo, August 31st and what it taught me about what you can do so that you don't miss your version of Oslo, August 31st. Happy watching/listening! Alex P.S. If you want to discover 12 great films per year that you might have otherwise missed in cinemas, the brand new Reel Ruminators: Explorer is for you! Doors are now open until Tuesday.
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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.
You might be wondering what it's actually like to step into The Deep Focus. So here's a little taste. The first thing I always do is point you to a moment worth looking at. Below is one from the beginning of Sentimental Value. Take a sec to see what you spot in the image. Everything counts — even (and especially) the obvious. You might have noticed: ✨ We're looking through a window (which takes up most of the frame). ✨ We're watching someone through glass. ✨ Someone is leaving. ✨ It's a...
I’m running something new in April. It’s called The Deep Focus. We’ll spend three weeks with two films by Joachim Trier — Oslo, August 31st and Sentimental Value — following how they’re put together. We'll look at specific moments, trace patterns within and across the films, and see how those choices shape what you feel. If you’ve ever felt a scene hit — and weren't quite sure why — this is a space to stay with that question long enough to find an answer. I won’t tell you what to think.But I...
A couple of weeks ago, I was listening to Bill Hader, the SNL star-turned-writer-director, on the Team Deakins podcast. He was talking about rewatching Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, hitting a moment that felt like an emotional gut punch — and literally pausing the film to ask:“Why did that hit me?!” That kind of moment — where something lands harder than you expect —and you feel something strongly before you know why… You’ve probably had that, too. Even Hader — who thinks about directing...