The holidays may be over, but winter is just getting started. To keep the blues at bay, here are some films and books to enjoy from under a warm blanket.
Cover photo: Jason Abdilla
The Holiday (Nancy Meyers, 2006)
Does this classic even need an introduction? If you’ve never had the chance to watch this iconic film from the 2000s, don’t wait any longer. In it, we meet Amanda and Iris, two young women who are going through an emotionally rocky time. On a whim, they decide to do a home exchange. One finds herself in a cosy cottage in the English countryside. The second ends up in a very well-equipped villa in Los Angeles. If it’s your first time watching it, don’t judge it too harshly – it’s packed with all the clichés, but it’s still a wonderfully feel-good film.
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Les sentiments du Prince Charles (Liv Strömquist, 2010)
Feel like slamming your fist on the table? Then, “The Feelings of Prince Charles”, a graphic novel by Swedish author Liv Strömquist, is right up your alley. In it, she wryly denounces patriarchal society, alternating between pop culture references and more psychoanalytical reflections. As its name suggests, the book pokes fun at Prince Charles, but also Mr. Big (Sex and the City). Much to our delight, there’s something for everyone.
Photo: @sc.type
Nope (Jordan Peele, 2022)
We could have chosen any movie by Jordan Peele — but let’s go with the most recent one. Most selections of comfort films only include those with happy endings. However, at American Vintage, we have nothing against a little thrill of fear. Here, we meet Otis and his sister, who train horses for movie sets. When their father dies suddenly, after getting hit in the head by a mysterious object that fell from the sky, they decide to investigate. Spoiler (but not really): their problems have only just begun. Keep this for a Sunday afternoon when you can follow with a cartoon episode if needed.
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My Husband: A Novel (Maud Ventura, 2021)
She’s 40. She’s married. She has two children. She has a big house. She has a satisfying job. Who is she? A woman who seems to have everything she needs to be happy. But that’s without taking into account her completely out-of-control obsession for her husband. She spies on him, lists his faults in a notebook, sometimes scares herself and often makes us laugh. The 270 pages or so fly by quickly, perfect with a steaming hot cup of tea within hand’s reach.
Photo: @le.bazar.de.barbouille
Kiki’s Delivery Service (Hayao Miyazaki, 1989)
Like all witches, Kiki must — at age 13 — leave home, move to a city on her own and get a job. With her black cat Jiji, she sets off on this initiatory journey, with its fair share of obstacles and happy surprises, and lots of emotion. Released in the 1980s, this animated film promoting independence (in every sense of the term) hasn’t aged a day. Watch it on your own or with your family, without moderation.
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Black Friend: Essays (Ziwe, 2023)
If you’ve already seen her on social networks, it’s probably because of her biting interviews. But in addition to making her guests uncomfortable on YouTube by asking the questions that everyone wants to ask, she is an author, above all. Funny and smart, Ziwe offers many points of view in this collection of essays — notably about what it’s like to be the “black friend”. Touching and indispensable.
Photo: @thecommonpress
The Grand Budapest Hotel (Wes Anderson, 2013)
Part-comedy, part-drama, The Grand Budapest Hotel pulls us into the daily life of the employees and clientele of an enormous hotel, from the viewpoint of Mr. Gustave, the concierge (played by Ralph Fiennes). We find all the ingredients of a good Wes Anderson: the pastel colour scheme, the symmetrical shots and the absurdity of certain scenes. If the images get your endorphins pumping, then take some time to peruse this Instagram account which unites all the places that seem custom-made for this American director.
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White Nights (Fyodor Dostoevsky, 1848)
Is it a love story or a tale of despair? Perhaps a bit of both. This book introduces us to a young and very lonely man who, one fateful night, meets a devastated woman and falls in love with her. Four (white) nights and one morning later, we reach the conclusion — and that’s all we’ll say. Read this very short book on a Saturday between your dessert at lunchtime and your snack in the afternoon. And if you need one last reason: you can say that you read a Dostoevsky, without having to get through over 1,000 pages of The Idiot.
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Heartbeats (Xavier Dolan, 2010)
Heartbeats, or Les Amours Imaginaires in French, is one of this Canadian director’s first feature films — and probably one of his most touching. In Montreal, in the 2010s, Francis and Marie live a fast-paced life, between walks in Mile End and dance nights. One evening, they meet Nicolas, an ambiguous man who puts their friendship to the test. If you’ve always wanted to dive into Xavier Dolan’s world, this is a great place to start.
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On the Calculation of Volume I (Solvej Balle, 2024)
If you liked Groundhog Day, you’re going to love this book (the first of a series of seven). The pitch is simple: Tara, the protagonist, relives the day of 18 November over and over. Why is she the only one in this situation? Can she ever escape? If so, how and when? This rather contemplative work dwells on the meaning of life — Tara’s and your own.
Photo: @antilibrarian
AMV Journal is a space dedicated to encounters, discovery and travel. Every week, explore the musts, portraits and inspirations of American Vintage and its creation studio.