Very few new thoughts

But something visual

I’ve barely even read anything over the past two weeks, oops.
Here’s a brief list of what I’ve been consuming anyway.

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Ephemeral Consumption

• Who is Wellness For? by Fariha Roisin — Slowly getting through reading Fariha’s examination of wellness culture. It’s insightful and smart, tackling the ideas of colonialism and trauma, but it’s also quite dense.

• Lingoda — After obsessively learning French on Duolingo for almost a year (gamifying learnings works!) I was secondhand influenced to try out Lingoda, a platform with virtual language lessons taught over Zoom. I started with the second-to-beginner level, and while challenging at first (jumping straight into speaking, lessons are taught primarily in French), I already think I’ve improved after about a week and a half. Je l’aime beaucoup, lol. If you have any French film recommendations so I can practice listening comprehension, let me know s’il te plait.

• Selling the OC — Bronson and I began watching Selling Sunset on a whim during pandemic lockdowns without any context or expectations…and we were quickly hooked. Little did we know, it’s kind of a cultural phenomenon—literally every person to whom we casually mentioned watching it was also obsessed. (One even liked Davina!) It is both off-putting and addicting to see ridiculously grandiose homes selling for millions whilst knowing there’s a housing crisis and that personally owning property likely isn’t in the cards for me. The real estate side is of course coupled with the petty drama of those who sell it. However, Selling the OC, the new spin-off series takes it a step further. The houses are grander and more ridiculous, the drama even more petty. Almost to the point of being unwatchable…but not quite. Did I enjoy watching it? Not sure. Will I watch the next season? Definitely.

• Until Branches Bend (2022) — I try to watch at least one movie at TIFF every year, or at least I did pre-pandemic. I only saw one this year and chose it on a bit of a whim based on what was playing that night, but it was a good choice nonetheless. Starring Grace Glowicki and directed by Sophie Jarvis, Until Branches Bend is a Canadian film that follows a cannery worker in the Okanagan region of British Columbia. I had previously seen Glowicki in Raf, also at TIFF, and wasn’t blown away because the story was a bit meandering. However, this one gives her a character that’s much more dynamic. Immediately after watching, I described the film as Melancholia (a beautiful representation of existential dread) meets Erin Brockovich (challenging small town norms)—a good combination in my eyes. The visuals are striking (shot on 16mm), and themes of “invasion” (the film’s working title) are subtly but successfully woven throughout. Would recommend.

• I started a new (kinda) job and made this during my lunch break from work. I am bad at taking breaks:

‘til next time,
Maegan