May 6th: Keep it simple, stupid.

A moving depiction of Georgian culture, a manic thrillride, and a charming quasi-musical.

Good evening! For me, this week has been buzzing with anticipation - I’m going to see a show tonight (Dijon) that I bought tickets for back in January, and I’m feeling summer coming around the corner. So I’ve been rattling in my cage a bit, at the expense of my work-from-home roommate’s sanity. That means that I’ve been looking for ways to relax recently, and that’s moved me in the direction of narrative simplicity. I’m generally someone who’s drawn towards complicated stories, but every time I sit down and watch a simple movie, I remember what I’ve been missing. There’s something reassuring about movies that don’t try and do too much, that trust the audience to pay attention without flashy twists. So here are three movies that employ uncomplicated narratives to different ends, each reveling in their own forms of simplicity.

The Movies:

An achingly heartfelt depiction of forbidden love, And Then We Danced casts a spotlight on the rarely-represented culture of Georgia (country, not state). It depicts a societal struggle between tradition and modernity, a fact grimly underlined by the film’s difficult path to recognition in its own country. In a 2020 GQ article, director Levan Akin recounted the obstacles he’s faced bringing this movie to life, including violent protests at screenings (they haven’t held one after the initial weekend because of safety concerns), losing locations because the subject matter leaked, and hiring bodyguards to protect the cast and crew. Even today, the choreographer remains anonymous for fear of retaliation. But under all that controversy lies an understated, tender film, revolving around a stunning performance from newcomer Levan Gelbakhiani as Merab. It’s a captivating feat of storytelling, an intimate depiction of finding one’s feet in a foreign world. And it’s got a few scenes you’ll be queuing up on YouTube for months afterwards.

thanks to Carrie for the recommendation!

Watch if you’re in the mood for: Contemplation, lovely dances, relatable characters.

Mad Max: Fury Road (HBO Max) is an adrenaline shot straight to the heart, a movie that knows exactly what we wants and gives it to us at every opportunity. Protagonist backstory? No thank you! Plot twists? Unnecessary! Director George Miller (yes, the guy who directed Happy Feet) strips away every piece of extraneous information until all that is left is pure unadulterated energy. There’s not a wasted moment in the film - every frame could be a painting, every line of dialogue serves narrative function, every scene is uniquely fascinating. In a world of increasingly bloated action blockbusters, Fury Road is a breath of fresh air, a stunning example of less-is-more filmmaking, and, possibly, the best action movie of the 21st century.

Watch if you’re in the mood for: Gorgeous practical effects, subtle world-building, lots (and I mean LOTS) of explosions.

As you may be able to tell by now, I love a good coming-of-age story. It’s an endlessly renewable narrative structure - easily relatable, because we’ve all been there, yet constantly interesting, because no one childhood is the same. Sing Street (free on Prime Video with ads, but an adblocker will block them) employs most of the traditional cliches (boy-pining-for-girl, musicals, older siblings wanting their younger siblings to leave where they grew up so they can grow, etc.) but through sheer charm and positivity, this ragtag crew of tiny Irish boys somehow turns them into a breezy, original, delightful film. Plus, you won’t be able to get the songs out of your head. This movie is just excellent vibes across the board, and is guaranteed to turn your day around, whenever you need it to.

Watch if you’re in the mood for: Just the right amount of cheese, earworms, great hair.

The Binge:

In our current media landscape, half-hour network sitcoms feel like a dying breed. The genre is refocusing on narrative progression, leaving that traditional sense of cyclical comfort behind in exchange for multi-season narrative arcs and complicated characters. However, shows like Abbott Elementary (Hulu) prove that the network format still has a lot to give. Following a motley crew of understaffed Philadelphia teachers, it’s a love letter to that most important of professions. It’s equal parts laugh-out-loud funny and empathetic, treating all its subjects with grace and care. Creator Quinta James is great as an overly optimistic teacher trying to change the world, but it’s really Janelle James as Principal Ava who’ll stick in your head - I don’t think I’ve made it through a single one of her scenes without cracking up. It’s a modern story with a classic sit-com feel, great for the end of a long day.

Watch if you’re in the mood for: Low-stakes television, comfort food, pajama viewing

The Tune:

It’s easy to break down melodies, or chord progressions, or great lyrics. But one aspect of songwriting that’s often overlooked is time. The length of a given song has a huge impact on the listening experience, and while there are countless great epic ballads out there, I’ve always been more impressed by songs that don’t overstay their welcome. Skipper, by prolific guitarist Alex G, is perhaps my most cherished short song. The fade-in of overlapping guitars at the beginning immediately invokes a sense of perpetuity, a feeling that you are entering a space where this song has always existed, will always exist. His wispy vocals, always asking questions, give the song a childlike sense of wonder. And just eighty seconds later, it ends just as it began, easing you back into the real world with a subtle fade-out. It’s a warm blanket, a cyclic, soothing song that begs repetition. Even now, hundreds of listens later, I’m still not tired of it.

See you next week! And don’t forget to treat your moms this and every weekend - they deserve it :)

Love,

Nick