Your Weekend Watch: Thanksgiving Edition
This weekend, many of you will have a few extra days to cozy up on the couch and catch up on some home entertainment. No matter what your traditions are, this is a time of year where we reflect on the special people in our lives, whether it be our family or close friends. With that spirit in mind, here are some recommendations for movies and shows centered around family and friendship:
Maid (2021)
Created by Molly Smith Metzler
This mini-series is based on Stephanie Land’s book Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive as it follows her real-life experiences as a maid and single mother. Both the book and series explore the faults in the welfare system and the stigma that permeates around it. The series centers around Alex who takes her daughter from her home and abusive partner in the middle of the night. Wanting to make a stable life for her daughter, she starts working as a maid. She faces legal, financial, and emotional challenges as she fights to keep her daughter safe. Getting an intimate look into the complicated lives of her well-off clients, Alex gains a better understanding of what she truly wants in life. Through her perseverance and the kindness of people she meets along the way, she is able to move towards a better path.
Where to watch: Netflix
Summer Camp Island (2018-Present)
Created by Julia Pott
Best friends Oscar and Hedgehog head to summer camp for the first time. When they arrive, they discover the island is magic and run by teenage witches. They spend their summer exploring the island and the magical creatures who inhabit it. Through their adventures, they deepen their friendship while also uncovering the strengths within themselves as individuals. Head witch, Susie, is constantly in a grumpy mood who the campers are always trying to avoid. While she may feel like the antagonist in the beginning, we slowly learn about her past and everything she does to keep the camp running smoothly. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Julia Pott discusses how she pulled inspiration from the time she moved from London to New York. It was both a scary and exciting time. Many of the anxieties around the concept of change are reflected in Oscar who often seeks comfort in Hedgehog. Full of cute characters and sweet moments, this show is the perfect comfort watch for days when you want to destress.
Where to watch: HBO Max
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Directed by Valeria Faris and Jonathan Dayton - Written by Michael Arndt
After attempting to take his own life, Frank, comes to stay with his sister, Sheryl, and her dysfunctional family. Sheryl’s daughter, Olive, finds out she got a spot in the Little Miss Sunshine pageant. Unable to afford a flight, the entire family must travel from New Mexico to California in an old VW van in two days. Along the way, they struggle to keep their van in one piece while tensions among them build. Barely making it there, they eventually figure out how to support each other in their own unique way. This film is a heartwarming reminder that it is okay to be yourself, flaws and all.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
Band Aid (2017)
Directed by Zoe Lister-Jones - Written by Zoe Lister-Jones
Married couple, Anna and Ben, are going through a strained patch in their marriage. After suffering a miscarriage, they struggle to get along on a daily basis. In an attempt to work through their constant arguing, they decide to turn their fights into songs. By creating music together, they begin to actually listen to one another. They recruit their neighbor to be their drummer, but he quickly senses the issues between them. When all of their true feelings come to a head, they are forced to face their grief and the fears that have been holding them back. This movie adds humor to an overall difficult time in a couple’s life. It lets you laugh, while giving you room to feel the variety of emotions one goes through in a time of pain.
Where to watch: Hulu
The Farewell (2019)
Directed by Lulu Wang - Written by Lulu Wang
Billi travels to China after finding out her grandmother, Nai Nai, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Following tradition, the family decides they will keep the truth about her own condition from her. It is believed that the knowledge of her illness will only worsen her state. Instead, she is led to believe they are all coming together to celebrate the marriage of her grandson. Throughout the film, Billi attempts to convince the family they should tell Nai Nai the truth. Despite carrying immense sadness, Billi wants to ensure she cherishes the time she has left with Nai Nai and appreciates where she came from. In a 2019 NPR interview, Lulu Wang discussed how she based the film on her own family experience when her grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. This movie was her way of dealing with her conflicting feelings.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
