In Jane Austen Wrecked My Life, a thoroughly charming romantic comedy in French and English, we’re shown how problematic it can be to expect life to unfold like a plot in one of Ms. Austen’s works.  Agathe (Camille Rutherford), the tortured writer at the center of the film, has been waiting for an unexpected turn of events that will propel her past her insecurities and doubts.  Life, however, refuses to cooperate and Agathe drifts along without purpose.  Fortunately, her loved ones take the initiative to force her out of her self-induced inertia, which sets Agathe on a journey remarkably similar to one of Austen’s heroines.

Of all the reasons people use to justify developing previously untouched land, creating a glamping site has to be right up there.  I was unfamiliar with the term before seeing Evil Does Not Exist, and after two characters explained what it meant I was appalled.  The thought of bulldozing trees and smoothing a natural landscape so that rich people can have a glamorous camping experience is silly, but I fully understood why people would pay for it.  Unlike a public camping site, glamping offers amenities and resort-style services.  There’s no need to “rough it” when you can relax in the equivalent of a hotel room nestled amongst trees.  (This begs the question as to whether an activity can even be called camping if there are no inconveniences involved.)  Second, glamping is all about exclusivity.  There’s no need to worry about camping around normal, everyday people when you can use your money to pitch your yurt next to other rich people like yourself.

Perfect Days is a mysterious and enchanting character study.  The movie also speaks to how futile it is to believe that we can dictate the terms of our lives.  One of the best movies of 2023. Highly Recommended. Continue reading Perfect Days