175. How three very different films ended up in conversation

Join me (Alex Heeney) on a journey through three films I programmed inside Reel Ruminators — a British political thriller, an Indigenous Canadian documentary, and a queer South African drama — and discover how their contrasts actually illuminate one another. 

By the end of this episode, you’ll see how exploring differences between films can reshape your own viewing of film as an art form.

🎧 In This Episode You’ll Discover

• Hidden threads connecting three very different films—and how noticing those threads can deepen your own film palate.

• Time as a storytelling tool in cinema: why stretching or compressing time matters, and how you can see it in action.

• Imagining “an otherwise”: an academic concept—one I first encountered through queer cinema—that helps you consider films about marginalized lives in a new light and uncover new layers of meaning.

• Tiny moments, lasting impact: why just a few minutes of film can carry immense emotional weight—and stick with you long after the credits roll.

• Sneak peek at upcoming picks: what’s on deck next inside Reel Ruminators and the threads you might spot in hindsight.

Links & Mentions:

• 🎬 Join Reel Ruminators

• 🎁 Free companion guide to one of 2024’s best films