SCREENSHOTS #8: The Shopping Conspiracy, I’m Still Here and other recs
Movies, series, books and more: everything I've watched, listened to, read, and tried in November.
Movies
Skincare
I was very curious about this movie after watching the trailer a while ago- it is a thriller that follows Hope Goldman (Elizabeth Banks), a renowned Los Angeles aesthetician on the verge of launching her own skincare line. Her excitement turns to fear when her car is mysteriously damaged, her email gets hacked, and her reputation comes under attack. At the same time, a rival opens a boutique across the street from her business, adding to her suspicion and paranoia. While in-between genuine threats and her own fears, Hope embarks on a tense journey to uncover the person behind the attacks.
The film's narrative is loosely inspired by the real-life case of Dawn DaLuise, a celebrity facialist who was accused and later acquitted of plotting to hire a hitman against a competitor.
Available on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.
Am I ok?
A charming "dramedy" that’s worth a watch—just don’t go in with sky-high expectations (and that doesn’t mean it’s bad!). This movie follows Lucy, a 32-year-old woman in Los Angeles, as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and comes out as a lesbian. But beyond Lucy's internal struggles, the film is also a heartfelt exploration of female friendship. Her relationship with her best friend, Jane, captures the ups and downs of real-life friendships. Their moments of joy and conflict are so relatable, every woman will see a bit of herself in their story.
I'm still here
During its premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival back in September, this Brazilian movie garnered a standing ovation lasting over 10 minutes. I was really curious to check after seeing so many comments about it on social media. Luckily, I was able to score some tickets for a screening at MoMa and I cried at least three times.
Set during Brazil's military dictatorship, the film centers on Eunice Paiva, portrayed by Fernanda Torres, as she searches for her missing husband, former congressman Rubens Paiva. The way the story is told is stunning, emotional and beautiful. As a Brazilian, I hope this movie gets all the hype that deserves it.
The film will have its North American premiere in 17 January 2025, in New York and Los Angeles, followed by a wide release on 14 February 2025. I read it will also be available on Apple TV.
Documentary
Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy
"This documentary is so depressing," my husband said as we finished watching Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy on Netflix. And I have to agree with him.
It’s depressing because it’s true. The documentary forces us to confront the unsettling reality of where the world is headed. It exposes the hidden tactics and manipulative strategies employed by major brands to trap us in a never-ending cycle of consumption—regardless of the consequences.
While I was familiar with many of the facts shared by the interviewees, seeing the visuals and hearing the bold statements hit differently. It's sad to think how consumerism has evolved in our society.
Available on Netflix. Sad but necessary.
Series
Disclaimer
OMG. I've never seen a TV series like this one. Nothing was predictable.
This psychological thriller miniseries based on Renée Knight's 2015 novel follows Catherine Ravenscroft (Cate Blanchett, she is AMAZING!), a renowned documentary journalist based in London. Her life becomes a mess when she discovers she's a character in a novel that reveals a long-hidden secret. I couldn't stop watching until the end that definitely didn't disappoint.
Available on Apple TV.
Books
Hooked: Food, Free Will, and How the Food Giants Exploit Our Addiction
The documentary about shopping just added to my hopeless feeling about the world, cause previously to that I had listened to the audiobook version of Hooked: Food, Free Will, and How the Food Giants Exploit Our Addiction and let me tell you: it is also pretty shocking. This book lays out all that the food industry is doing to exploit and deepen our addictions, and shows us why what we eat has never mattered more.
On the blog
10 best tips for surviving a long-haul flight – tested and approved - When my husband and I planned our trip to Tokyo and Seoul back in May this year, I started to get super worried about one thing: the long 14-hour flight that we would have to take to get there. Check my tips!
How to Spend 4 Days in Tokyo- Our travel itinerary - check our 4-day journey through Tokyo, with my perspective on what makes the city so unique, along with practical tips for navigating it.
How to Spend 4 Days in Seoul- Our travel itinerary - my dream destination in Asia has always been Seoul, South Korea. I guess this interest has grown in me, not because of K-dramas or K-pop – but because of my obsession with K-beauty and, later, for my interest and curiosity around food, and, of course, Korean food was included here.
14 space-saving hacks I’ve learned while living in NYC - Living in a New York City apartment means mastering the art of making every square foot count. Over the years, I’ve discovered hacks and strategies that not only save space but also make my apartment feel more functional and inviting.
On my IG
Some of the posts that deserve your attention:
Trying desserts in Seoul:
15 Paris tips:
My dog greeting me when I got home:
Other random suggestions:
Seven Ways to Love Better - Daniel Jones, editor of the famous NY Times Column Modern Love, shares his favorite lessons about love and life.
Just delete them - a straightforward Substack post about how we waste our time and energy with people that don't deserve our attention online.
Coffee Break French - a friend recommended me this podcast for French learning and absolutely loved it. What an easy and convenient way to learn and practice a language - they have other languages too!
Learn How To Cook in Under 25 Minutes - I love Joshua Weissman channel on Youtube - his videos are so fun and extremely useful for anyone who loves cooking. This video has so many great tips!
Let me know if you have good recs on movies, TV, podcasts, books… I'm all ears! And let me know if you have followed any of these tips that I share here :)