2020 has been an infamous year. Now, it’s almost over, but the pandemic that has controlled much of it is still ongoing. As winter approaches, it’s important to stay busy as people will be even more isolated than before. It’s also important for people to stay safe and healthy as well. So, while this may mean staying inside and refraining from normal winter festivities, it does not mean that everyone has to succumb to boredom.
As it gets colder, and as COVID-19 continues to hold us hostage, we are going to need to find some things to keep us busy. Fortunately, there are movies, television shows, documentaries, and books which are worth checking out, and can help kill some time.
If anyone is looking for a good limited television series, Netflix’s “The Queen’s Gambit” is definitely one to look out for.
The show stars Anya Taylor-Joy as Beth Harmon, a young orphan who rises to international recognition as a chess prodigy. The series depicts her life from the age of nine to the age of twenty, and shows the trials and tribulations she faces as she navigates her newfound fame.
The series is short, comprising only seven episodes, but it is beautifully done, and does not disappoint.
If someone is looking for a slightly longer television show, “The Crown”, also on Netflix, has come out with a fourth season. Though it has raised some media controversy, many people have praised the season as well.
The show’s first season begins in the 1940s, and the fourth season picks up in the 1970s. It gives the viewer an inside look at the British government and monarchy.
Though movie theaters have been closed down, that does not mean people have to miss out on films as a whole.
In fact, it may be the perfect time to find new favorite films and directors.
The films of renowned director Wes Anderson may help distract us during these long winter months. Known for his distinctive colorful style, his lineup of actors, and his comedic storylines, Anderson’s films provide the watcher with the perfect escape.
If you’re just getting into him, a good place to start would be with early films such as “The Royal Tenenbaums” or “Rushmore.” It’s also worth noting that he has a new film due to come out sometime in 2021, called “The French Dispatch.”
If someone wants to watch a film from 2020, “The 40-Year Old Version” is a funny, realistic film. The film, which is semi-autobiographical, tells the story of New York City playwright Radha Blank, and her journey to reinvent herself as she moves forward in her career. It is hilarious, honest, and accurate.
Another film from 2020, this one a documentary, is “John Lewis: Good Trouble.” Representative John Lewis passed away this year, and this beautiful film takes a look at his life and his involvement in our current government as well as the original Civil Rights movement. The film includes interviews with Lewis himself, as well as many others, and it includes footage of Lewis during the 1960s as well. It’s a wonderful, in-depth look at a man who accomplished so much for our country, and watching it is the perfect way to honor him.
Reading is also a wonderful way to occupy the mind. It is also nice to read books that coincide with things that are happening at present. “The Great Believers,” a novel by Rebecca Makkai is an amazing read. The novel was published in 2018, but due to the topics it deals with, it is actually quite relevant. The book alternates between two different time periods, 1985 and 2015. It deals with the AIDS epidemic, specifically in Chicago, and it shows the devastating effects it brought about. December is National AIDS Awareness Month, and this book shines a light on what was an extremely dark time in American history.
For those interested in a nonfiction read, “Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own” by Eddie Glaud is worth checking out. The book showcases acclaimed author James Baldwin’s message and the America he lived in, as well as the one he believed in. It then connects his story to the current American story. In light of the increasing acts of racial injustice this year, and of all the years past, and the political and social movements that have risen as a result, this book is a must-read.
With all of that, just because it’s winter does not mean you have to be bored! There are countless ways to stay busy, and innumerable things you can check out, whether it be t.v shows, film, or literature.
