the best of what I watched, read and listened to this year

Spotify Wrapped, be damned.

Capping off another weird year with a list of the film, music, and books that provided healthy disassociation from it all. In no particular order: 

FILMS

Nanny  

Written and directed by Nikyatu Jusu, Nanny is a drama/suspense film that follows an undocumented Senegalese woman who works as a Nanny for a wealthy white couple in NYC while saving up to send for her son who she has not seen in nearly a year. I initially thought this would be more horror, and while there are horror elements, the core conflicts are in the internal emotional turmoil of the protagonist. What I love about the film (aside from how gorgeous it is and the masterful color treatment) is how Jusu uses the palpable anxiety of being Black and an immigrant and working for white people in domestic settings as the driver for suspense. Though it's been a common critique of Black horror films that there is too much mimicking of Jordan Peele in the years since Get Out, Jusu's writing and directorial style are specific and well-defined. I don't know how I feel about the last 1/4 of the film, but overall a great watch. 

Everything, Everywhere, All at Once 

This film was an experience that I lowkey wish I would've seen in theaters instead of wasting my $20 on NOPE. Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Schienert (aka "Daniels") who got their start as music video directions, it has been described as sci-fi/adventure and absurdist comedy, but for any woman who has mother issues, it also serves as a tearjerker relationship drama. A LOT is going on in this film, multiverses, generational traumas, martial arts, hot dog fingers (yes, you read that correctly), but its genius is making all of its madness feel well-integrated. 

FAREWELL AMOR 

Directed by Ekwa Masangi, Farewell Amor follows an Angolan woman who moves to Brooklyn with her daughter to live with her husband, whom she has not seen in 17 years. The newly reunited family finds belonging through dance; my only gripe is that I wish more dancing was in the film. What I love about this film is that it speaks to reacclimating after family estrangement and the hopefulness of starting over to create something that deviates from expectations.