The Platform, Little Fires Everywhere and Other Discoveries
Hi everyone!
Today is one more day where I get to prepare a shortlist of the new pieces of art that I had the opportunity to discover over the last weeks.
It’s been a weird time and I believe the following weeks are still going to be far away from the reality we were used to living. The thing is, independently of how we have spent those weeks, every one of us has come to some conclusions, revelations and discoveries, either about yourself or about the future you want.
I personally have been feeling pretty uninspired. The idea of going out felt dangerous and staying at home some days meant staying on my couch doing whatever I had to do, which often resulted in nothing too productive. Even though I was feeling pretty bad with myself for that, I have read about other people going through the same feelings and I have realized how normal it is to feel that way when we are going through such a confusing time. We had to paralyze everything, from the way we live to future plans and vacation, sometimes including changing our diets because the supermarkets were out of stock.
I found myself looking at the computer screen for many hours a day. I started to regret not having paper books instead of ebooks, as my eyes were really getting tired of looking at the same monitor. That situation gave me another reason to give audiobooks one more chance.
I guess form all those hours consuming content from my coach, I select those movies and books that have left me touchy. These are amazing pieces that, for one or more reasons have left me thinking about them for more than a few hours and I believe everyone could enjoy them for different reasons.
Movies
- The Platform
This Spanish movie gets to explain the way the whole world functions in just a couple of hours.
Prisoners and volunteers live in vertical cells. Every day, a huge platform full of food goes down to the cells for the prisoners to eat anything they want or, in the case of the lower platforms, what’s left to eat. Every few weeks, the inmates fall asleep and wake up in a different random cell.
After watching the movie, I felt confused as I understood there were 2 different endings. Reading theories and conclusions from other people was one of the best ideas I could have had. The story is a beautiful metaphor of the world and how hard (if not impossible) is to change the system we are forced to live in. The main character reads El Quijote all the time, a book whose main character is as much of an idealist as the main character of this movie.
If you have already watched this movie, what do you think happened at the end?
- The Lodge
Very few horror movies have made my skin crawl like this one. Maybe because the topics that are brought to the table involve real-life struggles like mental health and trauma. No weird ghosts, no blood and jumps, simply real-life horror.
Two kids are forced to spend the Christmas holidays with their dad and their dad’s new girlfriend short after their mom dies.
There is something unique about this film. Every previous horror movie I have watched before was actually full of fairly unrealistic characters like ghosts or demons accompanied by a matching soundtrack full of jumps and scares.
There are no ghosts in this movie, no dead girls with greasy black hair coming out of a pit, every horror feature is based on something realistic and human, including the loss of a loved one, childhood trauma, religious cults and sleeping paralysis. Is there something more terrifying than those?
TV Shows
- Little Fires Everywhere
I was hesitant to watch this one. The first episodes felt quite slow and uninteresting, but I continued watching and it was a great choice. The two families of the story are so different but both would go as far as they can get to prove themself how valis they are.
After watching the last episode, I run to a movie forum in order to check reviews of the movie, and I found out that it’s based on a book! One of the comments mentioned that the best parts of the book were not in the show, which has created in me the need to read the book too.
- Defending Jacob
A still haven’t watched the last episode because it is currently being broadcasted.
The story portrays the life of a family after the teenager is accused of murdering a classmate.
An entertaining story about an investigation and everything the involves. I think there are two episodes left for me to finish it but so far it’s been keeping me busy once a week and if you enjoy immersing yourself in crime dramas, I encourage you to give it a try.
- I Am Not Ok With This
If you liked “The End Of The F****** World”, you will love this show. Same vibe, same universe.
A teenager struggle with her high school life and her feeling whilst trying to control her new superpowers.
The episodes are very short, but it’s all thriller no filler, I am already waiting for the second season.
Books
- The 48 Laws of Power – Audiobook
After looking a the screen for the most part of the day, I decided to give Audiobooks another chance. The 48 laws Of Power focuses on the most powerful people in the story of civilization and studies their patterns, behaviours and dynamics with other people. It’s a very long book and sometimes can get a bit too much. However, you can learn so much about power dynamics in everyday environments like families, workplaces and relationships in general.
- The Charisma Myth – EBook
I was recommended this book months ago and it was downloaded in my ebook library. The book is a complete guide related to every small part of a Charismatic personality, from body language to self-control. If you are looking for an easy to read, self-help manual, The Charisma Myth can be a great choice!
- Gone Girl – Paper book
It felt like going back to the ’80s! I know in the past I complained about the paper book and how annoying it is to move them around during movings. However, I got this book from the local library just a few days before they closed every single business, and it was one of the best decisions I had.
The book is so beautiful that some paragraphs make you feel as if you were reading a poem. I watched the movie based on the same book years ago and I loved the story, so the trama wasn’t really a surprise for me, but reading this was like eating a piece of delicious cake. I found myself restraining from reading too many chapters because I wanted it to last longer.
Have you read any amazing book lately? Remember to take care, stay safe and thank you for being here one more day!
23 Comments
Emma Crawford-Nash
I have also been suuper uninspired lately, I am sure it’s about the lockdown and how strange is it.
Sounds like great recommendations, I have to check those movies! Specially The Platform sounds very interesting
Kiira Smith
Hopefully everything will get better sooner than later. Until then let’s stay safe and discover more movies 🙂
John Malone
Fantastic list. I have seen The Lodge and it was way better than I was expecting (I was expecting the typical horror movie). The platform sounds great and super interesting, I have to watch it soon
One quick thing, you put the tv show I am not ok with this, in the movies section. Just letting you know!
Kiira Smith
OMG John, you are the best, I just changed it, thanks!
Olivia
Great list, what were your thoughts on the ending of The Platform?
Kiira Smith
Spoiler alert: …I think that those in-between moments portraying the chef looking at a hair stuck in the cake mean that the girl never existed. After the cake made it, they thought that the reason nobody ate it was because of the same reason they wouldn’t eat it either: because of the hair.
Like, the system is so broken that there is no way to really communicate between people with extremely different circumstances.
I read many other great theories though 🙂
Ava
I have seen Little Fires Everywhere and it was pretty good, it starts getting better after the first few episodes and the last episodes are very good! I also need to read the book!!
Kiira Smith
I am starting the book today, so exciting!
Hicham
I saw the last episode of Defending Jacob this morning and it was brutal! Got me really interested in reading the book too….
Kiira Smith
It must be a great book, they changed a few parts, so it’s not supposed to be the exact same story…
Mia
I totally adore Gone Girl, it is great that you have read the book too! If you liked the style you might enjoy Sharp Objects, from the same author
Kiira Smith
Yes! Sharp Objects and Dark Places are both on my list. Gillian Flynn is a genius and I want to read every book she has published hahaha
Karen
I read The Charisma Myth a few months ago and I think it is a great book – it is pretty much straight to the point, and loads of actionable tips. Not all books of that genre are that great but this one was def. good!
Kiira Smith
Actionable tips are one of the best traits this book has.
Chloe
Great list, specially the books.
You mentioned being uninspired, have you read The Alchemist? I will always recommend this book to anyone and everyone, especially for those going through hard times or need inspiration. It’s a self-help book and fantasy novel and children’s literature all in one.
Kiira Smith
I read The Alchemist when I was in high-school and I loved it. Maybe I should read again 🙂
Elise
I was now reading In the Tall Grass by Stephen King and Joe Hill. It’s a novella so I read it in a day and was hooked the whole time. If you’re faint of heart, do not touch that book!
Kiira Smith
Interesting, now I feel very tempted to read it hahaha
Sai
I am now reading “The Coddling of The American Mind”. It’s very interesting and I think it’s pretty balanced in approach. The authors attempt to explain why Gen Z is what it is and does what they do. For a Millennial like me, it’s been informative.
Kiira Smith
Wow, I never heard about that book but you sold it very well to me, It’s on my list now 🙂
Tamara
Great list! I think that Gone Girl was a pretty good movie (I mean, between movies adapted from books). I always enjoy wathcing both movie and book to see the similarities/differences between them!
Kiira Smith
I enjoy doing that too, and reading the book after watching the movie/tv show feels like enjoying the same experience but in a more profound way.
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I couldn’t resist commenting. Exceptionally well
written!