Issue 6: Society of the Snow

Currently on plane crashes, curses, closure, and pilots.

📝 Reviewing: Society of the Snow (2023)

Like J.A. Bayona's directorial debut, 'The Orphanage,' 'Society of the Snow' is also a tale of love and a story of horror. The film chronicles the chilling real-life events surrounding the 1972 crash of a Uruguayan rugby team—from their departure for a match in Chile through the days that passed until only some of them returned home.

Nestled within the unforgiving Andes mountains, the film is an exploration of human resilience, survival, and morals. Pedro Luque's cinematography navigates the desolate terrain through sweeping wide shots, capturing the expansive landscapes, and tight close-ups, conveying the palpable claustrophobia experienced within the frozen fuselage. The juxtaposition of these visuals, coupled with Michael Giacchino’s haunting score and the. most. intense. plane crash sequence ever shot, elevates ‘Society of the Snow’ to be one of the most captivating films of the year.

Beyond its technical achievements and stellar performances, the film serves as a profound testament to the human experience—illuminating how we ascribe meaning to life and tragedy and the faith we find in our friendships with others. Please don't let Netflix auto-play the next episode of 'Single's Inferno'; instead, when the credits roll, take a moment to absorb the poignant photos of the real-life teammates in what may be one of the most heart-wrenching scenes in film this year. ‘Society of the Snow’ is available to stream on Netflix on January 4th.

📺 Watching: The Curse (2023)

Nathan Fielder is no stranger to awkwardness. Creator of ‘Nathan for You’ and ‘The Rehearsal’, Fielder is known for his quirky approach to comedy and ability to blur the lines between reality and satire, and his latest project is no exception. Co-created with Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems) and starring Emma Stone, ‘The Curse’ is described as a series that explores “how an alleged curse disturbs the relationship of a newly married couple as they try to conceive a child while co-starring on their problematic new HGTV show, Fliplanthropy." If that sounds like a lot, it is. It’s an uncomfortable satirical commentary on gentrification, native land rights, marriage, colonization, the art world, <catches breath>, privilege, ecology, greed, trauma, and climate change just to name a few.

What made Fielder’s previous series, ‘The Rehearsal’, shine is that it had a singular focus—helping ordinary people rehearse difficult conversations—and there were rules established upon introduction. This allowed the audience to enter the magic circle, to ground themselves in the comfort of these rules which set an expectation for each episode. So when Fielder bent the rules, it was unexpected and impactful. In ‘The Curse’, it seems there are no rules; anything can happen, and therefore nothing is off-limits. With three episodes remaining, ‘The Curse’ will need a miracle in its toolbox to repair this show’s shaky foundation. ‘The Curse’ is available to stream on Showtime.

🎧 Listening To: No Stupid Questions - Do You Need Closure?

A production of the ‘Freakonomics Radio Network,’ 'No Stupid Questions' is a podcast hosted by research psychologist Angela Duckworth and tech executive Mike Maughan. In this special episode titled ‘Do You Need Closure?’ they discuss unfinished tasks, recurring arguments, and Irish goodbyes. Most interestingly, they delve into the Zeigarnik effect, which asks, 'When we have closure — when something is checked off or resolved — does that thing exit our mind?' This led me to wonder if starting this newsletter was a result of the Zeigarnik effect; an attempt to clear film reviews from my mind, creating space to absorb the next film… ‘No Stupid Questions’ is available to stream on Spotify.

🎲 Playing: Sky Team

Sky Team is an immersive two-player cooperative game that thrusts players into the roles of pilot and co-pilot as their plane approaches an airport for landing. The players have a limited number of rounds representing the plane’s decreasing altitude to collaboratively ready the aircraft for a successful landing by skillfully lowering the landing gear, adjusting flaps, and maintaining level wings. Sky Team includes 12 different airports, each introducing new gameplay mechanics. With a unique theme, high replayability, quality components, and quick playtime, Sky Team stands out as one of the best game releases of 2023.

Thanks for being here.
— Justin

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