New Year highlights!

Going back to school is easier when a good movie awaits you at home.
‘Spark books & curios’ store in Perth, Ontario. Photo by Hannah Bell.

Though the Winter break is already over and we are all about to fall back into a hectic routine, we need to make sure we’re taking some time to unwind after a cold, long day of classes. 

Here are some recommendations of movies, TV shows, and books curated by Concordia students that you should check out to keep warm during the back-to-school season. 

MOVIES

Babygirl (2024)
By Kailee Krentz

Grab your popcorn! In this teasingly tense story of cat and mouse, production company A24 has paired Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson to star alongside each other as CEO and intern. 

The two exchange charming wit in passing conversation, adding a layer of comedy to the film as we witness their relationship electrify, heightened by flashing strobe lights, intense rave music, and intoxicating innuendos. 

The story entertains the idea of power imbalances associated with erotic kinks as Kidman’s character, Romy, jeopardizes her livelihood, entertaining the fantasy Dickinson’s character, Samuel, is offering. 

Alongside the intimate cinematography and developed plot line, the music and sound increase the film’s intensity with layered, melodic, and slightly distorted heavy breathing matching the accompanying beat. All in all, this may not be a film you want to see with your family, but grab a group of friends and enjoy watching this fascinatingly twisted relationship unfold. 

The Six Triple Eight (2024)
By Maya Ruel

In this historical movie, we follow Lena along her journey as a Black womanwoman of colour joining the American army during World War II. 

After the man she loved tragically dies, she decides to enroll to honour his memory. Her battalion works hard under terrible conditions and has to deal with misogyny, racism, and classicism. 

This movie is a story of resilience, sisterhood, and love. It is beautifully produced, very moving, and one of the best modern feminist films I have ever watched. The acting and costumes are incredible. The plot is straightforward and simple, yet so intricate and well thought-out. 

This was my favourite watch during the holidays.

The Carry-On (2024)
By Maya Ruel 

This thriller is set in an airport where a security officer gets involved in a terrorist operation against his will and has no choice but to cooperate if he wants his pregnant girlfriend to survive the attack. 

Intense, fast-paced, and a bit violent at times, The Carry-On is mostly exhilarating. The plot is unique and keeps you on your toes from beginning to twist ending. 

If you want to watch something that will keep you on the edge of your seat, I recommend you give this movie a chance.

Nosferatu (2024) 
By Lilianne Lachapelle

This new release is a great homage to its original source material and other gothic pieces. Director and screenwriter Robert Eggers was extremely faithful to the plot of Nosferatu (1922) and managed to evoke the essence of the classic black-and-white masterpiece through the neutral colour palette and dark setting. 

However, Eggers additionally included other gothic conventions in his remake to enrich the story and further explore some of the original’s themes. The focus on female hysteria and sexuality adds depth to the rendition and is reminiscent of other gothic classics that defined the tradition.

The performances of Nicholas Hoult (Thomas Hutter), Lily-Rose Depp (Ellen Hutter), and Bill Skarsgård (Count Orlok) perfectly completed this film. An overall fun and fascinating rendition of the classic.

TV SERIES

Arcane (2021-2024)
By Alena Vo

With season two’s release in November, the holiday season was a great time to revisit this beloved animated series. Arcane is a trauma-laden masterpiece that nobody can get enough of. That’s par for the course for a series obsessed with duality; as twin cities Piltover and Zaun prepare for war, conflict explodes between two estranged sisters.

There’s something for everybody here: artists will appreciate the gorgeous animation and steampunk worldbuilding, writers can spend hours analyzing the complex storylines that clash violently, and any fandom lovers can gush over the ship material handed to the viewer on a silver platter.

If you enjoy media that makes bad times feel like the best thing to ever exist, you’ll love Arcane. And with two short nine-episode seasons, it’s a small time commitment for a sweet and satisfying conclusion.

Couples Therapy (2019-2024)
By Hanifah Sinon

For love, would you risk the world being privy to the intricate details of your intimate moments and feelings? That is the risk participants in the Showtime reality show Couples Therapy dare to take. 

Practicing in New York City, Dr. Orna Gurlanik is a psychologist, psychoanalyst, and main star of Couples Therapy. On camera, she offers therapy to real couples navigating complex and heart-tugging issues. Any resident of “The Big Apple” can receive these sessions for free, a service that would otherwise cost $700 individually. The catch? The whole world might see. 

The casting directors select a group of couples for Dr. Gurlanik to work with, but only half make it to the screen. Episode after episode, you watch the same couples sit down and share some of their most shameful actions, crushing fears, and shaping heartbreaks. There is a voyeuristic pleasure in diving into the private lives of strangers — it almost feels like gossip. Peculiar people and experiences are constantly revealed. Yet surprisingly, the feelings and needs expressed are universal. 

My sibling and I binged a season during the holidays. More times than I could count, we’d stop the show and reflect out loud. Do you think he realizes what he’s saying? Could this be related to what she shared about her childhood? We’d practically play therapist — the game was both entertaining and introspective. 

There might be skepticism about the ethics of such a show, but it’s clear that the process is handled with care. Despite the provocative nature of the concept, it’s simply a touching lens into human connection and its complexities.

Dune: Prophecy (2024)
By Soraya Yale-Ramanathan

If you’re a fan of Frank Herbert’s novel Dune or its film adaptations, try Dune: Prophecy, a prequel series set 10,000 years before the original story.

The series follows the Bene Gesserit sisterhood, an order of women best described as space witches. 

Their story is set on a backdrop of a massive intergalactic empire rife with corruption. Immerse yourself in the political intrigue of this sci-fi world as multiple factions fight to control the imperium. 

Having already read or watched Dune will give you more insight into the story’s lore, but it’s not a prerequisite to enjoying this spin-off. This series might even inspire you to check out the source material. With six episodes, around an hour each, this series offers viewers a way to ease into Dune‘s dense lore and worldbuilding at their own pace.  

BOOKS

The Secret History (1992)
By Soraya Yale-Ramanathan

Called a modern classic by critics, Donna Tartt’s novel The Secret History is a must-read for anyone looking for motivation this semester. The slow-burn psychological thriller follows a group of recluse Greek students at a sleepy university. Watch as the group unravels as it tries to navigate the dire consequences of its actions. 

Tartt’s writing hyper-focuses on the smallest details, whether it be a piece of clothing or the slightest mannerism of character, creating a rich world.

The story pulls the audience into a world that is both familiar and foreign. While the narrator is an average, moody university student from a middle-class family, he manages to fall in with a group of old-money academics. Tartt pulls you into a world where students lay around in suits while drunkenly having philosophic debates in Latin. 

If you’re looking for a book to inspire you to become a pretentious academic this semester, pick up a copy of The Secret History

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