In this video, our film critic Terry Ebinger talks about Spike Lee’s film American Utopia, an exploration of our longing for community. In this wonderful collaboration, Talking Heads composer David Byrne gives an energy packed performance–with musicians carrying their instruments, at the same time they are singing and dancing–as he leads us on a journey through America’s moral landscape, exploring our notions of home and inclusivity.
What to watch when life is looking grim and you’re searching for a story of resilience and hope? Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) spins a dreamlike fable. It starts in a magical landscape that’s facing a great flood. It’s about the redemption of feeling, and the family as the crucible of initiation. And it introduces us to some fiercely proud people who know a lot about loss and survival.
Hailed at Sundance, The Last Black Man in San Francisco is a loving exploration of black male identity, wounded masculinity, and the healing power of friendship, family, and art. The film allows us to hang out with two sensitive and gentle men, Jimmie and Montgomery, two artists in their thirties, life-long friends, searching for a sense of meaning and belonging.
If you’re trying to find an affordable house and a community of like-minded folks to help you raise your kids, every second-tier city in North America is up for grabs. In Away We Go, Burt and Verona are looking for a town that feels homey and familiar, friends who are kind and supportive, and a house that fits them like a glove.
Fine dining, entertainment, terrific views, a new adventure in every port. That’s the lure of life on a cruise ship. And it’s also why extended voyages became an alternative to fancy condos for boomers not quite ready to settle down. But now that we’re under health restrictions, you might want to do some armchair cruising, with our list of books and classic films.