Yet another spring tease. Highs of over 80 yesterday promise lows of 30 in the days coming. When can we trust the warm, lively season to come full and in earnest? Among all of this instability, we can at least take solace in new media releases, as the Arts section has been enabling readers to do every week. Whether sunshine, rain or cold, begin with these personal recommendations of new media releases.
When your brother vanishes under mysterious circumstances on a Vancouver island, you make a film about it. This is the premise of the docudrama Hunting Matthew Nichols, with one wrench thrown into it: a new piece of evidence enters the investigation — one that suggests, after all this time, the brother may still be alive. Even just reading the summary of this film, I feel myself creeping closer to the edge of my seat.
No one knows better than our chronically online generation the phenomenon of people like Natalie Heller Mills: the “tradwife” influencer with a cowboy husband, six children and all the work being done for her off camera. The industrial kitchen and nannies never make it to Natalie’s social media. When she finds herself transported back in time to the 19th century, however, how will she handle the same issues she convinced millions of people online that she was already handling every day? Will it be as rewarding when no one is watching and constantly gratifying her? These are the questions you will only answer by reading Yesteryear.
Ella Langley is an artist whose name I had only heard when I discovered she’s releasing Dandelion soon. That being true, after hearing some of her chart-topping and most popular country songs, it’s clear she’s someone I should keep an eye on, so I’m here to tell you what I wish I knew sooner: watch out for Ella Langley, beginning with this release.
Jonathan Franzen is your dad’s favorite author — or, at least, he’s my dad’s favorite author. A massively accomplished writer and intergenerational talent, Franzen is finding his way to Homewood this April to be a part of the President’s Reading Series. When lightning this brilliant strikes campus, anyone would be a fool to not drop anything to witness it. As the saying goes, it can be guaranteed to not happen again.
To watch…
- Hunting Matthew Nichols, directed by Markian Tarasiuk — April 10
- Bunnylovr, directed by Katarina Zhu — April 10
- Hamlet, directed by Aneil Karia — April 10
- Newborn, directed by Nate Parker — April 10
- You, Me, & Tuscany, directed by Kat Coiro — April 10
To read…
- Yesteryear, written by Caro Claire Burke — April 7
- Hexes of the Deadwood Forest, written by Agnieszka Szpila, trans. Scotia Gilroy — April 7
- The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances, written by Glenn Dixon — April 7
- This Land Is Your Land: A Road Trip Through U.S. History, written by Beverly Gage — April 7
- Transcription, written by Ben Lerner — April 7
To listen…
- Dandelion, by Ella Langley — April 10
- Cruel World, by Holly Humberstone — April 10
- Honeymoon Forever, by The Covasettes — April 10
- Nowhere, At Last, by Broadside — April 10
- Squish, by Gretel — April 10
Live events…
-
President’s Reading Series presents Jonathan Franzen — April 8, 6–8 p.m. in Room 26, Mudd Hall
- This event is free.
-
The Workers of Evergreen — April 9, 6–7 p.m. at Evergreen Museum & Library
- Ticket prices vary. Registration is required.
-
6th Annual Donald Bentley Memorial Lecture | The Freedom Bell: Celebrating the Life of Frances Harper — April 9, 6–9 p.m.
- This event is free with registration.
-
Lunch with the Libraries & Museums | Early Marylandia: Historic Documents from the Founding of the Old Line State — April 10, 12–1 p.m. online
- This event is free with registration.
