Film – Emma
Jane Austen’s Emma is my favourite novel, so I had high expectations coming into the new adaptation. I have to say, it didn’t disappoint. Anya Taylor-Joy shines in the lead role, under the direction of Autumn de Wilde, making her directorial feature film debut. The film is beautifully shot across some of Britain’s most sparkling locations, including Firle Place in East Sussex as the Woodhouse estate, Hartwell. The highlight for me, however, was the score, created by Isobel Waller-Bridge (she also scored her sister’s hit TV show, Fleabag), which includes some pieces performed by the cast, folk tunes, and some Regency parlour classics. An absolute delight!
Lois Heslop (Editor-in-chief)
TV– Gentlefield
This week I’m watching Gentrified on Netflix. I’m really enjoying this series – it’s humorous and easy-going whist being informative and politically engaged, opening up a dialogue surrounding gentrification and change in Mexican-American communities in Los Angeles.
Martha Davies (Literature Editor)
Literature – White Noise, Don DeLillo
This week I’m also reading White Noise by Don DeLillo, which follows the life of an eccentric professor, brought sharply into focus by a freak chemical accident. I picked this up on a whim and so far I haven’t been disappointed – DeLillo’s style is witty and enviously confident, exploding the idiosyncrasies of small-town life into pointed analysis of modernity and existentialism. Even if you aren’t keen on being confronted with your own mortality (frankly, who is?), DeLillo’s narrative is so rich and seamlessly artful that you won’t mind. I definitely recommend!
Martha Davies (Literature Editor)
Music – Suddenly, Caribou
The laidback, dreamy beats of Suddenly form the latest full-length release from Canadian artist Caribou. This album was highly-anticipated and doesn’t disappoint, take a listen to their leading single ‘Never Come Back’ for some Sunday night atmosphere.
Emmeline Armitage (Senior Culture Editor)
Wild Card – Stuff You Should Know (podcast)
Each episode, the hosts of this show choose one ‘topic’ to teach their listeners about. While it may take a few episodes to get into, the witty, subtle humour and sarcasm of the hosts Chuck and Josh make learning about any of the odd subjects they discuss – from conjoined twins to the New York City Santa Claus Association – really fascinating.
Lily Sheehy (Film Editor)