Need a Break? Here’s a Weekend Collection of Movies, Music, and Books

Need a Break? Here’s a Weekend Collection of Movies, Music, and Books

We all need a break, including a respite from our usual thoughts. However, this is easier said than done. The best way to “switch off” is to engage your mind with a movie, book, or song. We asked Belarusians what to watch, read, and listen to. Here are their recommendations.

Movie Picks by an IT Specialist

Ivan Trofimov, Tester

“Cherry”: A Soldier’s Fate Shattered by War

This criminal drama tells the story of a young man who enlists in the military due to problems with his girlfriend. It’s a highly dynamic film that blends genres and addresses generational issues.

The movie explores post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which goes undiagnosed in the soldier played by Tom Holland. Known for his role as Spider-Man, Holland showcases his versatility in this gritty drama.

The film is a biographical tale of a hero whose life is shattered by the militaristic policies of the state. He struggles with PTSD and falls into an even darker trap—drug addiction.

Interesting Fact: The author of the novel on which the film is based, Nico Walker, is a former military man suffering from PTSD. He drew the main character from his own experiences. In scenes where characters use drugs, real needles were used.

The Series “Skam France”: Handling Success the Right Way

The main character enrolls in the world’s best engineering school. However, popular students constantly humiliate the gifted 18-year-old genius, prompting him to seek revenge.

Lucas, aka Lux, hacks into the mobile phones and computers of his acquaintances, including those of Alma, the girl he loves. He quickly becomes the person he always dreamed of being, but in doing so, he creates his own trap. He even starts having problems with his teachers, who are top specialists in computer technology.

This story impressed me greatly. The moral? Learn from others’ mistakes, not your own.

This is a French series. We rarely hear about French series, but this one immediately captivates with its style and atmosphere.

“Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”: A Classic by Guy Ritchie

This legendary film by Guy Ritchie is a must-watch for anyone interested in English comedy culture, particularly its black humor. Ritchie himself created many of the film’s memorable “one-liners.”

The movie follows four young men who each save £25,000 to allow one of them to play in a card game with an experienced hustler and a seasoned criminal known as Harry the Hatchet. They end up losing £500,000 and are given a week to repay the debt. The quartet decides to rob the criminals, but their adventures are far from over.

Interesting Fact: On his first day of shooting, actor Vinnie Jones went straight from the police station to the set. He had been arrested for assaulting his neighbor.

Playlist by an English Teacher

Angelina Gilevich, English Teacher

LUNA — “Trans”: A Reminder of Understanding and Compassion

I am particularly fond of Luna as a character and as a person. I am also drawn to how she projects her experiences into her music. Each album has a different mood, message, and atmosphere.

Christina particularly embodies her feminine energy, which can be felt not only through her songs but also her music videos. I am very fond of extravagant women who are unique, and Luna is one of them.

She is one of the few female singers who also has a male audience. As she mentioned in an interview, this helps men understand women better.

My favorite album is “Trans,” with its unusual “experimental” sound. The singer noted that she was inspired by electronic music. I particularly like the song “Different Rules,” which reminds us to be more understanding and compassionate towards others. It also reminds us not to forget our inner freedom, which is why the lyrics from this song stuck with me immediately.

The album was presented on the TV show “Evening Urgant,” where Luna performed the single “Lilac Paradise.”

TR/ST — “Destroyer”: Perfect Background Music

This is my favorite album because it introduced me to a new sound that I hadn’t heard before. It’s rare to like every track on an album, but with “Destroyer,” that’s exactly the case.

Electronic music with a calm vocal and occasionally melancholic lyrics. This album can appeal to anyone and is an excellent choice for background music.

TATARKA — “Boys & Girls”: For Aesthetic Pleasure

The music video was shot on a VHS camera, creating a unique atmosphere. It’s very romantic and stylish, without any particular meaning, purely for aesthetic enjoyment.

Book Recommendations by an Actor

Maxim Chernyuk, Actor at the Mogilev Drama Theater

Jeffrey Eugenides “The Marriage Plot”: A Coming-of-Age Story

For many years, my favorite book has been “The Marriage Plot,” which was published in Russian-speaking countries under the title “A Wedding Story.”

This is a story about Brown University graduates in the early 1980s. The main characters—Madeleine, Leonard, and Mitchell—study literary theory and enjoy the freedom that seems to be in the air.

However, Madeleine, with her romantic pursuits, must quickly grow up and face harsh trials. Her friends (one of whom becomes Madeleine’s husband) will feel the deep social chasm that separates them.

In addition to heart-wrenching plot twists, the book has a truly excellent ending that makes your heart ache. Yet, you understand that it couldn’t have ended any other way.

A broken heart seems funny to everyone except the one who has it.

Donna Tartt “The Secret History”: The Dark Side of the Elite

Another story about students, but in the style of Dark Academy. The events unfold in a small college in Vermont, where the main character goes to study ancient Greek. Outside of his studies, he meets an elite group of students who not only introduce him to the mysterious world of ancient literature but also make him an accomplice in a deadly tragedy.

Ann Patchett “The Dutch House”: The Inevitability of Fate

This family epic is about a brother and sister whose fates are inextricably linked to the Dutch House—a mansion in eastern Pennsylvania.

The Dutch House itself is not haunted by ghosts, but everyone who crosses its threshold becomes, in a sense, a ghost of the house: no matter where they go or live afterward, they carry this image with them.