The Best of January

So we are back with all the best we have seen and read during the first month of 2017.

1. [SERIES] 30 for 30  

Sport has a unique place in the American society. In contrast to Europe, this elevated status makes sport and its stories integral part of the national culture. ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 series builds on this special position of sports in the American psyche.  In each episode, we see a personal story of a legendary athlete, team, or game. Whether it tells us about the redemption and comeback of Marion Jones (probably the best episode so far), the rise of the Detroit Pistons “bad boys” during the 1980s, or Wayne Gretzky's move from Edmonton to Los Angeles, the series does it in a profoundly sensitive, and captivating way. This is not a coincidence – most of the episodes are directed by acclaimed documentary directors, who accepted ESPN’s invitation to contribute to the series. For us Hungarians, the story of two former Yugoslavian basketball players – the Croat Drazen Petrovic, and the Serb Vlade Divac – was the most emotional. This two genius have formed the core of their legendary national team. They moved to the MBA at the same time, became closest friends before turning into bitter enemies when Yugoslavia went down in flames, and their nations started a war against each other. While there is no happy ending offered (Petrovic died in car accident, and Divac never managed to heal their friendship before that), this story blends the American dream and the Central European realities in a way that it will not leave you untouched.

2. [BOOK-FICTION] The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden - by Jonas Jonasson

For some time, I have been aware of the quality and success of the Scandinavian crime genre (read Stieg Larson’s Millenium trilogy – simply the best in its kind). However, I have not explored the Nordic literature more deeply. Thus I was very curious when I started Jonas Jonasson’s “The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden” novel. And boy that was amazing – hilariously witty, fascinating, full of energy and joy. Yet the story covers some serious matter – institutionalized racism and oppression in South Africa, nuclear bomb, looming inequalities in some parts of the Swedish society. Moreover, Nombeko’s strong, independent and intelligent character makes the book a virtual feminist manifesto. So while I laughed my head off reading it, Jonasson’s novel has managed to excel on other levels as well.

3. [MOVIE - FICTION] Hell or High Water

The Oscars (Academy Awards for the elegant ones) are coming up – so you will read a lot about chances, secret favorites, gala dresses and other PR mumbo jumbo. But don’t care about that, just sit down to watch some of the truly outstanding movies we have right now. We did the same for a couple of evenings. While some flicks were okay, but below our expectations (I know it is heresy to say, but I felt like that with Star Wars Rogue One), or pretty good, yet not an instant classic as some movie folks hyped them (Arrival), there was one film that stood out from the crowd. David Mackenzie’s Hell or High Water is a brutally powerful, sobering neo-Western about the rural regions and communities, which were left behind. Set in Texas this bank-robbery story reflects on some of the most pressing social issues (bank foreclosures, slowly dying small towns) in a subtle, yet very moving way. Jeff Bridges is truly marvelous playing the brusque, retiring Texas Ranger, plus we have never seen Chris Pine using his acting skills so well (or at all) before.

4. [MOVIE - DOCUMENTARY ] 13th

 While Hell or High Water tells us about the small-town, white folks left without chances and broken communities, Netflix’s documentary, 13^th, shows us another American group being under attack. The movie focuses on the mass incarceration of Blacks in the U.S. The numbers are terrifying. However the story behind them is the real target of 13^th- we follow how the GOP establishment (Nixon, Reagen, Bush the older) and big business (managing the prisons is one of the largest and most lucrative industries in the nation) invented the war against crime and drug to harness it to their political and economic benefit. Watching the 120-minute documentary we couldn’t help to feel frustrated, and angry – the numbers and trends are crystal clear and brought by the best experts in the field (including our favorite Van Jones). If you put 13^th next to Hell and High Water, you will come to the conclusion that these two, very different groups are victims of the same political forces, who since the 1970s turned social and economic policies into a neo-capitalist nightmare. Tragically, they even managed to create a situation where the majority of these groups – white men in left-behind rural counties and young blacks in big cities - harbor suspicion, and hatred against each other, while huge profits are earned by the big boys…

5. [BOOK - NONFICTION] Fareed Zakaria In Defense of a Liberal Education

This book launched itself with a perfect timing to the post-truth era, making a case for studying majors like History or English literature. A classic liberal education will provide you with the ability think critically and analytically, be good friends with facts - skills much needed in the Trump era. Zakaria proves brilliantly that universities has to make you ready for your fifth job, not your first.