Dear Reader
The Stars song “No One Is Lost” somehow shuffled its way onto my playlist while I was running yesterday and it’s like the track, from the band’s 2014 album of the same name, knew it needed to be heard by me right at that time. I don’t know about you — well, actually I think I do — but this phase of the pandemic is really getting to me.
Yes, we have a vaccine and possible end in sight, but with the people we’re still losing and the new variant scare, I am feeling, well, lost. Part of me sees others doing close-to-normal things, like starting new jobs, marathon-training, completing jaw-dropping floor routines, and I feel like I’m living a parallel life to them. Sure, I’m continuing to work as much as I can, writing and pitching stories about people creating music and movies and other such art-forms, but other than that, I don’t quite know what to work towards other than making it through each day in one piece.
As with last year, when there were many more questions around this pandemic, music is doing the most to comfort. So it is with the Stars track, and it’s pulsating beat that encourages dancing as the answer to one’s existential woes, for now.
Other things that are helping include said work, which I really am grateful to have right now. I am thankful to be able to write about the people behind some of the best movies and albums available for the array of emotions going round at this time.
Just before the end of last year, I shared my list of favourite movies of 2020 on Instagram. Many of them are still available to watch, so if you’re looking for ideas, here are 10!
1. Nomadland
2. Sound of Metal
3. Never Rarely Sometimes Always
4. A Sun
5. First Cow
6. This is not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection
7. Lovers Rock
8. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
9. Crip Camp
10. Tie: The 40-Year-Old Version / Saint Frances / Promising Young Woman
Special mention:
Da 5 Bloods, One Night in Miami, His House
I wrote about the Lesotho-directed, South African-produced This is not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection for the Guardian and Crip Camp, which is truly a fantastic documentary, as well as Ma Rainey’s Bottom, which gives us an outstanding memory of the late Chadwick Boseman, so I’ve linked to those stories in case you’re keen to read more.
Thank you for reading.
I’ll leave you with the music video for FKA twigs’ new track with Headie One and Fred again, which is co-directed by Black is King’s Emannuel Adjei and features Kara Walker’s Fons Americanus piece that was going to be taken apart after it’s time at the Tate.
Stay safe, stay sane
Your neighbour
Nadia