Seventh Row

Ep. 189 Berlinale 26: Arrú, Black Burns Fast, The Education of Jane Cumming

In episode 189 of The Seventh Row podcast, Alex Heeney spotlights three Berlinale 2026 films directed by women: Elle Sofe Sara’s Sámi musical *Arrú*, Sandulela Asanda’s queer South African drama *Black Burns Fast*, and Sophie Heldman’s 19th‑century period piece *The Education of Jane Cumming*. Each work tackles distinct systems of oppression—colonial land disputes, apartheid’s lingering legacy, and historic class and sexual hierarchies—while pushing narrative form. Heeney argues that the festival’s sidebar selections often house the most innovative storytelling, away from the main competition.