#1 Culture Fix | The End of the Year Issue
A roundup of 2023 cultural highlights just in time for the holidays 🎄🎁🍾
The Culture Fix is the place where I share the books, films, music, articles, interviews, plays, exhibitions, places, and even food, I’ve enjoyed lately and now I can’t stop talking about.
Recommendations may refer to content in either English, Spanish, French or Italian and sometimes not available in English.
I use English as a vehicle to share more broadly cultural recommendations in those other languages, which means some of it may not be available in translation. But since this is a publication called Abroad written by a foreigner in London, and hopefully appealing to those curious to explore beyond their own borders, this shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Since this first instalment of The Culture Fix comes at the end of the year, what a better way to inaugurate this section that a roundup of the cultural highlights of 2023.
Books I’ve read this year and highly recommend
— Anything by Claire Keegan, but if you need to start somewhere then Small Things Like These.
— The Idiot and Either/Or by
I have loved both novels and I’m looking forward to the third instalment of Selin’s adventures, hopefully including my beloved Svetlana. In the meantime I’m chuffed that Elif Batuman is also here on Substack writing The Elif Life— I’ve discovered Barbara Pym this year and she is fantastic. Have read Excellent Women and No Fond Return of Love, both witty and full of wonderful observations.
— Out of the Blue by Simon Armitage, current poet laureate. For the past few years I’ve tried to read more poetry -always a genre I feel a bit intimidated by- and I’m learning to appreciate it more. Out of the Blue is a beautiful and poignant poem written in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks and it’s impressive how Armitage is able to create a work of art through words out of chaos and terror. I’ve also started A Vertical Art: Oxford Lectures which gathers Armitage’s lectures during his four-year tenure at Oxford University as Professor of Poetry. It has already made me want to read Armitage’s translation of Pearl as well as of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, which I read a lifetime ago at university.
-La Educación Física by Rosario Villajos (not available in English, but you can find a summary here) A great novel that captures the atmosphere of the 90s back home and the oppressive and twisted education we received about our bodies, which seemed to be something to be ashamed of no matter what, as well as something we were responsible for and had to protect with our dear lives (literally).
-Bodas de Sangre (Blood Wedding) by Federico García Lorca. Although I’ve read plays and poetry by Lorca, I had never read Bodas de Sangre and I’m grateful the film adaptation of the play -more on that below- has led me to do it. He is one of the greatest poets in Spanish with an unmatched sensitivity for language.
-Pourque tu ne te perd pas dans le quartier (So You Don’t Get Lost in the Neighbourhood) by Patrick Modiano. I’ve been reading Modiano for years now, but I do it sparingly as his books require being in the right mindset as they can be emotionally overwhelming despite their slim size. I always say that it doesn’t matter which book of his you read: you’ll be invaded by sudden nostalgia and the sadness for all things past. And that’s intended as a compliment as he’s mastered the art of recreating so vividly a state of mind.
— Petit Pays (Small Country) by Gaël Faye. A coming of age novel based on Faye’s childhood growing up in Burundi when the civil war in Rwanda broke up. Evocative, beautiful but also very violent the novel looks at the absurdities of war from the eyes of a child.
Coming up in 2024
— Looking forward to finally tackling War & Peace, which I’m a bit intimidated by. Luckily
, who I’ve been following since I joined Instagram, is bringing to substack his War & Peace Read Along and people are totally on board for it. I think this is a brilliant idea and I’m sure that being part of such a slow-paced but enthusiastic reading community will help me get through the thousand plus pages of Tolstoy’s masterpiece.
Best loved new films in 2023
— Anatomy of a Fall, Wonka, Past Lives, Oppenheimer, Barbie. Each of them will go on to become a modern classic. 2023 has been a fantastic year for original stories, complex and nuanced characters, and visual fireworks without heavy CGI. Past Lives is probably the best film about the strange nature of love that I’ve seen, and one that resonates particularly with me. Celine Song has crafted a masterpiece that stays with you long after it’s over.
— Afire, Scrapper, Fallen Leaves and Dream Scenario all deserve a special mention as they’ve been quite enjoyable and very interesting visually, from the storytelling point of view or for how they explore creativity.
— Maestro by Bradley Cooper is also a very interesting look at the creative genius and its inner workings. There’s a scene where an already successful Bernstein is asked by an interviewer what his primary occupation is because it’s difficult to classify him professionally as he does so many things at the same time. Bernstein/Cooper gives a brilliant response: his primary occupation is musician. “Anything that has to do with music is my province”. I’m stealing that.
Other films
— La Novia (The Bride) by Paola Ortiz, one of the most visually striking and magical films I’ve seen this year (Past Lives permitting). Based on Blood Wedding by Lorca, the movie follows an ill-fated love triangle superbly brought to life by Inma Cuesta, Asier Etxeandía and Álex García.
— Ich Bin Dein Mensch (I’m Your Man) by Maria Schrader. This has to be one of best movies exploring what our romantic lives could look like if AI took over. An intelligent, empathetic and compassionate take on what a future where people can choose their perfect partner and the effects that would have. Highly recommended if you’re intrigued by how technology is disrupting the way we interact with each other. The performances by Maren Eggert and Dan Stevens are a treat.
— Tom Holland’s Spiderman Trilogy and Uncharted. Not a massive fan of superhero movies but Tom Holland’s spin on this younger version of Spiderman has been very refreshing as he’s brought his own personality and extra riz. Have also enjoyed him in Uncharted and I’m now seeing him as a XXI version of Michael J. Fox in his prime.
— Drive with Ryan Gosling. I only watched this film to decide whether or not to see Barbie and oh boy, was I in for a big surprise. Totally loved it and the aesthetics of the movie is just stunning. Also, how can this be the same actor that plays Ken?
— Little Women by Greta Gerwig. Again while making up my mind about going to see Barbie, I thought I’d give Gerwig’s adaptation a go. What a great decision. It made me want to reread the novel and it made me discover my new favourite actor: Timothée Chalamet.
And also…
— Now that the actors’ strikes are over, the Actors on Actors series is back. Loved watching the following pairings: Barbenheimer, Andrew Scott and Greta Lee and an oldie but goldie Emma Stone and Thimotée Chalamet. After seeing Wonka I find it very impressive how much he’s accomplished after that interview and the roles he’s gone on to perform.
— Great roundtable with the leading men of strong Oscar-worthy performances discussing their characters, the recent strikes, the impact of AI, and Andrew Scott making a great observation on the value of storytelling. Everyone is on top form this year, but if there’s justice in this world Cillian Murphy deservers that award.
— Celine Song talks about the work behind Past Lives.
— The Spotify Wrapped has landed and Muse came on top.
I’ve been lucky to see them live again this year at the O2 and they get better every time. I’m completely fascinated by Matt Bellamy’s creative mind (by the way I walked past to him while he was outside his house in North London days before going to their concert, total musical highlight of the decade) and I love listening to him discussing their latest album and creative processes as well as this making of video on the recording of The 2nd Law, which was an inflection point in their sound.
— Måneskin were also on my top 5 artists. I also had tickets to see them at the O2 in May but, as luck would have it, I was unwell and couldn’t go. They are one of the most exciting bands of the past few years and I was totally blown away when they won Sanremo back in February 2021 with Zitti e Buoni, which then gave them the right to represent Italy at Eurovision. Quite enjoying their latest album Rush! and the two new released singles The Driver and Trastevere, a ballad that brings the depth of their Italian lyrics to English.
— A few weeks ago I discovered Imagining Dragons via the reels from Brazilian fans that keep popping up in my Instagram discovery page (?) Muito obrigada, I guess, as now I’m quite obsessed with Thunder.
— This year I’ve also been obsessed with soundtracks, and I’m grateful that Barbie and Wonka have brought them back. Thimotée Chalamet as young Willy Wonka has been a delight to watch (do go and see it!) and Ryan Gosling embracing Kenergy has been one of the cultural highlights of the year and the decades to come, mark my words. He’s had a blast playing this character and it shows. To the point that he’s dropped a Christmas version of I’m Just Ken that is even better than the original. Ryan Gosling is the greatest Ken that ever Kenned.
— The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House, which you can also watch from the comfort of your house on streaming here.
This is one of my favourite cultural highlights around this period of the year and I couldn’t recommend it enough to anyone who thinks ballet is not for them or that it is too high-brow. This is a magical piece that makes you feel like a child again, marvelling at everything that is happening on stage, letting out big “Ohs” and “Ahs”. Every time I’ve seen it live there are plenty of kids (and some adults) attending the performance.
— 2023 has also been the year of theatre. Earlier in the year I went to see To Kill a Mockingbird with Matthew Modine and directed by Aaron Sorkin. I’ve also seen The Mousetrap for the first time and Witness for the Prosecution two plays by the one and only Agatha Christie. Pygmalion at The Old Vic by George Bernard Shaw was both funny and very educative and gave me tons of food for thought and Crazy For You at the Drury Lane Theatre had me with a big smile on my face from beginning to end. But one play stood out: Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons a play by Sam Steiner with Aidan Turner and Jenna Coleman. Very poignant and though-provoking story on the power of language and how lack of communication erodes our sense of connection. What would happen if we lived in a world where by law we can only use 140 words per day?
— The Rosettis exhibition at the Tate Britain is still impressed in my mind. Was a complete treat and it did spark my curiosity to learn more about the Pre-Raphaelites, their links to John Ruskin and William Morris and their intricate love triangles and romantic arrangements. Never underestimate how good gossip can lead to enlightenment.
— Traditionally I conduct a mincepie tasting every year between October- December for you should know I am of the opinion that mincepies are one of the best British inventions along with Hugh Grant. However, this year I think I’ve started to go off a bit on them. Instead, I’ve been quite an avid eater of lebkuchen, particularly the chocolate-glazed variety. The mix of spices with that slightly chewy texture wrapped in dark chocolate is a win for me.
— This year I visited Oxford for the first time in 14 years living in London. The reason? I did a summer course on creative writing at Oxford University. It’s been without a doubt my personal highlight of this 2023, which I started with the sole but firm resolution of doing more of what I love. As André Aciman writes “to test desire is nothing more than a ruse to get what we want without admitting that we want it” and writing is that thing for me.
Back in 2024 with more culture fixes!
Abroad is an independent publication about identity and belonging, living in between cultures and languages, the love of books, music, films, creativity, life in London, and being human in the age of artificial intelligence.
A great round-up, Cristina! Look forward to hearing more from you in 2024. And I am so pleased to hear you have become a fan Barbara Pym’s wonderful novels - I am planning to write more about her soon.