Heyyyy-
We’ve nearly made it through February. If you live on the East Coast it’s tough to see past the gray skies and limited sunlight but #greatcontent can keep our minds and hearts fed.
FILM
I avoided seeing the best film I’ve seen all year for the longest time because a) the title didn’t speak to me b) I have a phobia of vomit and a friend told me there was so much vomit in this that it might as well be a featured character in the poster. What do you know- after an excruciating maybe 7 minute vomit-filled scene with my hands over my eyes and nausea from it- Triangle of Sadness is still a film I can’t get out of my head and probably one of the best commentaries about class since Parasite. Tragically- one of the main actresses in it, Charlbi Dean, passed away shortly after it being distributed, from bacterial sepsis.
(Image from Triangle of Sadness)
Another film that will linger with me for a bit- is the documentary All That Breathes, now available on HBO. Linked is an amazing interview between the director and Brian Lehrer that makes you keep freezing from the amount of poetry in Shaunak Sen’s vision. It follows two brothers in New Delhi who started a clinic where they have helped 20,000 kite birds over the years- a gesture that is deemed to save one from troubles in Islam. As New Delhi struggles with an increasing amount of pollution, more and more birds “fall from the sky” and are in need of their help. All of this while Nadeem and Mohammad are also facing a new political reality that is forcing them to leave the country because of their religion. The film is a beautiful meditation on the role of birds in a city and our relationship to our environment.
Moving away from the gray- if you need a laugh- I can’t stop thinking about Set! - a documentary about a table setting competition at the Orange County county fair. Participants are all of course over 50 (mostly over 60) and have to create a table set according to a theme. This doc follows the “international” themed year and crazy characters including water aerobics friends, a poor male belly dancer who was recruited to perform at a Morocco themed table set reveal and a woman who can’t help but include taxidermy on her tables.
(Image from Set!)
If you want to go down even further into trash- I will also recommend that you buckle up for the latest Magic Mike- the last dance (but is it really??), Disturbingly narrated by a British child (?!) and aiming to be slightly more intellectual with references to the origins of dance- it lacks the himbos from 1 and 2 and takes itself too seriously- but the first (and last dance I will add) truly “belong in the Library of Congress” to quote the one and only Mariah (Smith).
Also extra brownie points for Claire Danes’ scream in Fleishman is in Trouble- according to my pottery buddy she got it on the first try.
Also- was insanely impressed by the amount of footage collected in the very dark documentary series on the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult. Don’t think I’ve seen something as disturbing in a while.
PERFORMANCE
I’ll be honest- I didn’t see a ton this month because of our show at Brick- but that was a magical experience. Highlights include making a woman laugh who came to the show the night before her father’s funeral and an audience participant who was on a karaoke reality show in Venezuela and in the Gloria Estefan musical. So fun.
Though I didn’t love The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window (feat Oscar Isaacs who we all love)- it led me to learn more about its playwright, Lorraine Hansberry (who also wrote Raisin In The Sun). In the play, Lorraine mostly depicts characters inspired by the white artists surrounding her in Greenwich village. She was dying of cancer during rewrites though and was never able to finish it- her daughter and Anne Kaufman took all of Lorraine’s drafts and notes and made a whole new version based on the edits they could find- so it is a bit messy- but left me more interested in that particular process? Also worth mentioning that we ran into Demi Moore WITH her DOG there- who is named… Pilaf.
(Demi Moore and Pilaf in Paris featured in The Daily Mail)
The Trees by Agnes Borinsky (directed by Tina!!! And featuring Jess Barbagallo!!!) also just premiered this week and though a bit long- left me in tears (unclear if partially caused by menstrual hormonal imbalance). The play depicts a brother and sister who end up rooted to the ground- like trees- and end up forming a (queer) community around them. Unfortunately said community is challenged when a mall is threatened to be built in their park. As absurd as the plot sounds, it won’t pull you away from Enver Chakartash’ as always unbelievable costume design, and the larger questions it brings up around gentrification and how giving in friendship may look different for different people- especially if you are rooted in the earth.
(Playbill Cover for The Trees)
Equally gay and fun world surprisingly- though with a much lighter touch- was brought by Justin Peck to the New York City Ballet (never thought I would write this tbh) in Copland Dance Episodes. I would not be able to tell you a single story line but the costume design, movement, lighting and percussion heavy composition gave it a Fame feel that was super refreshing at stuffy Lincoln.
AUDIO
Though I did work on Sisters as a researching audio producer- people just don’t make audio like Kaitlin anymore and I missed her work so much (since The Shadows specifically). In this season of The Heart, we follow Kaitlin and her sister Natalie through their lifelong sister-ship. The process of making this was really tricky because a) I was entering into my boss’ familial space, interviewing her mom and dad and Natalie about darker parts of Kaitlin’s life b) Natalie was also brought on as the producer - with Kaitlin as her boss so we had to be really keenly aware of power dynamics and space to allow for a truthful narrative to unfold. It took a LONG time to get there- two years- but the wait was 100% worth it.
(Wild podcast title image)
If you like sentimental audio and just want to listen to one stand alone episode of something- my friend Claire recommended this episode of WILD which came out 2-3 years ago and is about dating and developing intimacy with someone new during Covid. You wonder what the point is of listening to something that took place at the heart of it all now that we are “past” it but it still stands.
I also discovered that an engineer I work with makes really great music- and sells out shows- check on Bobby Woody on Spotify.
(Bobby!)
ART
‘Tis the year of ceramics says everyone including Frieze. Similarly to dance, what I enjoy about seeing ceramic art is that I can’t help but think about the process and cost of clay when I encounter it. But seriously- what all these artists have made is HARD WORK.
Jumana Manna’s first major museum exhibit at Moma PS1 is a stunner and focuses on community and agriculture with ceramics inspired by remains of khabyas- which used to store grains. Manna also has a film in the exhibit about foraging in Palestine and disagreements between Palestinian wild herb pickers and Israeli Nature Protection that meditates on what gets to live on and how.
(Photo of Manna’s work at MoMA PS1)
Manuel Mendoza Sanchez at Rachel Uffner gallery in La última Coca-Cola del desierto/ The last Coca-Cola in the desert showcases clay vessels that look into social constructs and the impact of capitalism on the religious world with a lot of humor.
Less funny and more masterly haunting is Gabriel Lee’s solo show Corpus at Artshack is focused on monstrousness and how trans bodies are shaped through words. A ceramic corpse emerging from the wall will stay with me for a bit.
OTHER
If you happen to be at On Air podcast fest- which I am not- they are doing “podcast experience rooms” this year and Kaitlin was given one. She offered the hotel room up to a couple and with their permission recorded them for 24 hours. Her and Brendan Baker mixed all the audio and Kaitlin, Brendan and I just sat and listened to it for the first time, in the room with her sister Natalie yesterday. Though it took a minute to make it perfect- it was kind of amazing to feel the ghosts of people- hearing them pee, order food or “pass by you” with their footsteps.
Another dark (book) recommendation is Jennette McCurdy’s memoir (the title can be upsetting and misleading so choosing not to include here)- if you were ever curious about the Nickelodeon celebrity lifespan or how trauma can be passed on from a mother to a daughter in very disturbing ways- give it a read.
(McCurdy’s memoire cover)
Catch you in March!