1. Um Pai no Meio do Caminho
Vicenza, 18, has lived in a hippie commune with her mother all her life. She has no complaints, really, other than not knowing who her father is. While her mom is abroad, she capitalizes on the opportunity to sneak off the reservation and search for him in the real world. All goes according to plan … until she realizes she doesn’t have one dad, but two. Um Pai no Meio do Caminho, Portuguese for Double Dad, is a Brazilian Netflix original that promises family-friendly suspense and laughs.
2. All American
Just as football season reaches its conclusion, the high school teen drama All American has arrived to stave off our cravings for more pigskin. Beginning its third season on Jan. 18, the Netflix original is what the cult favorite Friday Night Lights would be if it followed a young, Black star athlete out of Compton, tackling police brutality, gang violence and other socially relevant issues head-on.
3. Tribhanga
Odissi is a traditional Hindu dance from Odisha, India, while Tribhanga refers to the mesmerizing pose that accompanies it. This Bollywood film uses both as a backdrop to tell the story of three generations of women who are forced to reconcile their differences after Anu, a famous actor and Odissi dancer, deals with her mother falling into a coma and her daughter becoming pregnant. The story is a powerful exploration of the relationships between Indian mothers and their children. Catch it on Netflix.
4. Tiger
When Tiger Woods won the Masters for the fifth time in 2019, there were cheers, tears and fist pumps. For a moment, nobody thought about earlier controversies surrounding the golf legend. Despite the public’s temporary amnesia, a lot happened before he secured that latest green jacket. We’re talking knee and back injuries, a nasty and public infidelity case, sex rehab, DUIs — you name it. And when he lost his longtime caddie, Steve Williams, people thought he was well and truly done. Relive the rise, the fall and everything in between in this new two-part documentary, now streaming on HBO Max.
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read
1. Once I Was You
This memoir provides a refreshing perspective on America’s immigration crisis, written by Emmy Award-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Drawing on her personal experiences from decades of reporting, Hinojosa provides nuance to the conversation of the real challenges and competing forces at the border. As OZY Editor-at-Large Dr. Christina Greer says, the book pulled her into the Hispanic community, an experience that was particularly gratifying given her own experience as a Black woman who knows what it is like to be part of “the other."
2. The Charmed Wife
This fictional tale by Russian American novelist Olga Grushin picks up on the Cinderella story 13 and a half years later — after the pageantry of the fairy-tale ending. Now Cinderella is a wife who is over it (married folk will know what “it” is). Desperate to put her Prince Charming out of his misery, she seeks help from a witch who gives her the perfect elixir to kill him off. Available tomorrow, this quirky tale is about what happens when people don’t live happily ever after.
3. Concrete Rose
Angie Thomas revisits the same locale as in her best-seller The Hate You Give with this coming-of-age prequel, this time following Maverick Carter, the 17-year-old son of a former gang legend. Carter finds himself at the crossroads of continuing in his dealer father’s footsteps or going straight, because while the streets are all he knows, the teenager has a child on the way and it might be time to pursue another path. This story is an unforgettable reflection on the lines people decide to cross and one young man’s journey out of boyhood.
4. The Audacity
When Oprah talks, people listen. And when Roxane Gay writes? They read — whether it’s her tweets or her best-selling essay collection, Bad Feminist. Now her fans can enjoy her freshest offering through her Substack newsletter called “The Audacity. ” In it, you can expect more of her musings, pieces by emerging writers, a book club featuring works from underrepresented voices and more. In describing the newsletter, she says she hopes to tell stories about “the world we’re living in, the culture we consume ... and the things we should talk about.”
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listen
1. Enti Ana
Lebanese fashion icon and music artist Dana Hourani’s new single is the latest development in what has been a fast-budding career thanks in part to the influence of her 200,000 followers on Instagram. But don’t typecast Hourani, who is in her 30s, as your typical influencer-artist. The Dubai resident uses her fashion and music to bring attention to the problems of Lebanon and the Middle East. “Enti Ana," is dedicated to the women of Beirut, a city that endured a catastrophic explosion in August.
2. Good Things Guy
With the proliferation and immediacy of negative news, one South African podcaster decided to dedicate his platform to ensuring there is enough good balancing out the bad. For about 20 minutes each episode, Brent Lindeque highlights everyday heroes and feats that will remind you there’s always a silver lining — it’s just a matter of finding it.
3. Welfare Jazz
Some say they’re bringing back punk. With a name like Viagra Boys, we wouldn't be the ones to object. Released last week, the Stockholm post-punk band’s new studio album, Welfare Jazz, continues their serrated offbeat approach to rock and roll, adding dark humor and theatrics to the bit.
4. Heaux Tales
The internet was all up in arms this past week about Heaux Tales — the latest studio album from Jazmine Sullivan. The line “I pay his rent if he nasty” specifically got people talking, although it was mostly positive, as fans were excited about the R&B crooner’s first body of work since 2015, when she collaborated with Bryson Tiller on HBO’s Insecure soundtrack. These six long years were her longest hiatus between albums, with her three earlier ones each leading to Grammy nominations. Will this one do the same? Listen and find out if it really is worth all the fuss.
try
1. Moussaka
Whether you choose to make this Greek dish with lamb, ground beef or veggies, moussaka is going to knock your socks off and put you to a much-deserved sleep after. While it is a labor of love, involving multiple steps that take a while to cook, the layers of potato, eggplant and béchamel sauce — a white sauce made from roux and milk — make it all worth it in the end. Take the dish for a spin this weekend.
2. Witch’s Heart
This cocktail is famous in the Middle East, commonly ordered at places like the Souk Madinat Jumeirah, a bazaar in the United Arab Emirates. But if you don’t see yourself traveling overseas soon, Witch’s Heart is not too hard to try at home: Just muddle strawberries with lemon juice, toss in ingredients that include gin, saffron, rosewater and rosemary, and shake with ice until chilled.
3. Vipassana Meditation
This meditation technique is a staple in Buddhist and Indian cultures, but no need to travel East to obtain its benefits. Vipassana, also known as insight meditation, helps promote mindfulness, relaxation and a sense of inner peace. It teaches you that the only situations worth responding to are those based in reality. Knowing that, it might just be the perfect habit to pick up in these topsy-turvy times.
4. Dr. Squatch
Not all soap is created equal, and this bar for men from Dr. Squatch is a perfect example of that. As opposed to traditional soaps that can dehydrate skin, this is made with natural, healthy ingredients, all made in the United States, that also smell amazing. Bathe differently so you can feel different.
