The Week's Top Culture Picks: From Brazilian Thrillers to Mitski's Melancholy
This week's cultural landscape offers a rich tapestry of critically acclaimed works across television, film, books, and music. From a gripping political drama set in 1970s Brazil to a deeply personal album from a celebrated US musician, here are the standout picks from the Guardian's best-rated reviews.
Television Highlights
If you only watch one, make it 'Gisèle Pelicot: The Newsnight Interview' on BBC iPlayer. This perfectly judged questioning of the feminist icon showcases her innate dignity and strength, offering hope to women worldwide. Reviewer Lucy Mangan praised Pelicot's extraordinary poise, noting her ability to remain calm and moved even in emotional moments.
You may have missed 'Girl Taken' on Paramount+. This psychologically complex thriller delves into a family's ordeal with a kidnapped daughter, delivering engaging twists and deep narrative layers beyond typical genre fare.
Also notable is 'Dinosaur' on BBC iPlayer. The return of this Glaswegian sitcom brings refreshing, groundbreaking humor, undercut by an autistic perspective that revitalizes familiar British comedy tropes.
Film Standouts
If you only watch one, make it 'The Secret Agent' in cinemas now. Starring Wagner Moura as an academic fleeing corrupt politics in 1970s Brazil, this mystery drama combines visual brilliance, sensual intrigue, and gruesome lowlife elements into a novelistic study of corruption. Peter Bradshaw hailed it as something special for its epic languor and shaggy-dog comedy.
Pick of the rest includes 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You'. Rose Byrne delivers a terrific performance as a psychotherapist nearing breakdown amid personal crises, showcasing the strain of caregiving and professional composure.
'Wasteman' offers a brutally violent Brit prison drama with David Jonsson and Tom Blyth, sidestepping clichés through committed acting and fierce storytelling.
'A Knight's Tale' rerelease brings postmodern medieval fun with Heath Ledger and Queen's soundtrack, celebrated for its insouciant anachronisms.
'Man on the Run' documentary focuses on Paul McCartney's post-Beatles years, exploring Wings and domestic life with Linda, though it treads familiar ground with mesmeric charm.
Book Recommendations
If you only read one, make it 'A World Appears' by Michael Pollan. The bestselling author explores consciousness with pain-free prose, making complex ideas accessible and engaging.
Pick of the rest includes 'Our Better Natures' by Sophie Ward, a portrait of 1970s America with Andrea Dworkin, dramatizing ambivalence about revolutionary activism.
'The Last of Earth' by Deepa Anappara is an immersive novel on 19th-century colonial exploration in Tibet, rich with intricate research.
'Leaving Home' by Mark Haddon is a memoir of a loveless childhood, illustrated by the author, examining joy and damage in personal relationships.
You may have missed 'Endling' by Maria Reva, a witty Ukrainian caper on endangered snails and mail-order brides, disrupted by Russia's invasion and Booker-listed for its discomfiting intensity.
Album Selections
If you only listen to one, make it Mitski's 'Nothing's About to Happen to Me'. This album offers gorgeous songs about disconnection, flecked with horror and humor, providing thought-provoking and wrenching listening that makes misery worthwhile company.
Pick of the rest includes Hen Ogledd's 'Discombobulated', featuring Welsh taunts and bard rap in ragged, rich arrangements that champion collectivism and change.
'Johann Ludwig Bach: The Leipzig Cantatas' presents first-ever recordings of JL Bach's works, preserved by JS Bach, with incisive conducting and sumptuous sound.
Hedera's self-titled album explores global folk influences with sparkling warmth, masterfully twisting traditions without draining their specificity.
Now touring, Raye's UK show showcases her dramatic era, seamlessly switching from whispered croons to Europop dance parties, highlighting her vocal skills and formidable band.
This week's culture picks demonstrate a diverse range of artistic excellence, from political thrillers and introspective music to groundbreaking television and immersive literature. Each work offers unique insights and entertainment, reflecting the vibrant state of contemporary culture.
