189. Berlinale: a Sámi musical, a queer Black South African film, and an 1800s queer period drama

Some of the best, most boundary-pushing cinema at the Berlinale is quietly tucked away in the sidebars where most of the press never look. In today's episode, I'm looking at three films that feel like a step forward for women's stories: Arrú: A Sámi musical from Norway Black Burns Fast: A queer South African coming-of-age story directed by a Black woman The Education of Jane Cumming: A Scottish period drama based on the first documented legal case involving accusations of lesbians in the UK Taken together, these show how filmmakers are finding new ways to dramatize the systems shaping women's lives — from colonial land politics to the legacy of apartheid to the class and racial hierarchies of the 19th century. 👉 Curious about joining one of my film programs? Get on the waitlist here. I only open a few a year, and they're limited enrollment, so this is the best way to ensure you get first dibs on a spot.