Looking for some stuff to catch up on this weekend? Whether it’s TV, movies, books, or anything in between—VICE has you covered. Read on for our staff recommendations on what to take in during your downtime:
Search Party
The first season of TBS’s surprise-breakout black comedy Search Party started as an excruciatingly funny analysis of millennial entitlement and became… well, we won’t spoil it for you, but just know that it packs a killer twist that transcends gimmickry. (Looking at you, Mr. Robot.) And the second season of Sarah Violet-Bliss and Charles Rogers’s ingeniously dark creation ups the ante in every level, putting an at-times truly detestable group of people in situations where, just when you find yourself rooting for them, you’re forced to reconsider your stance. Just like life, right? —Larry Fitzmaurice, Senior Culture Editor, Digital
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The Breadwinner
If there’s one thing 2017 has made explicitly clear, it’s that his world is pretty fucked up for women. Still, it’s worth something that humans can deliver hard truths within a heady stew of beauty. So head to the IFC this weekend to catch The Breadwinner, Irish filmmaker Nora Twomey’s adaptation of the internationally best-selling children’s novel of the same name. When Parvana’s family begins to starve after her father is jailed by the Taliban, the 11-year-old girl cuts off her hair and earns her keep through various odd jobs under the guise that she’s a boy. I haven’t seen the film yet, but if the trailer is any indication, it’s a tender blend of animation styles new and old that sees the lengths people will go to ensure their family’s survival through the wide eyes of a child. If you’re in NYC, catch a Q&A with director Twomey at IFC tonight. —Emerson Rosenthal
The School of Life
Some pray when they’re looking for guidance; others find their answers on the internet. The School of Life is a YouTube channel founded by best-selling author, philosopher, and all-around chipper British dude Alain de Botton. He’s written 13 books detailing his compassionate, thoughtful answers to tough questions about love, religion, and human behavior. Through the animated videos on his channel, he offers crash courses in history and philosophy, parses out the modern meanings of overused words, and outlines his tips for vital skills like, “How to Make a Decision” and “Finding Your Mission.” Anyone can spew unsolicited platitudes on these topics for hours, but de Botton’s genius is that he lays out actionable ideas in concise, 3–7-minute bursts. Check out more of School of Life videos here. —Beckett Mufson
Show #30: Kristin Lucas
For its 30th show, and/or gallery in Pasadena, California, is handing over the reins to media art maverick Kristin Lucas. Those involved in the VR/AR/net art spheres will recognize the name, but for the rest of us, Lucas has been hard at work for more than 20 years pushing the limits of what artists can do in the digital spheres. For this exhibition, opening tomorrow at 7 PM, Lucas has created an “immersive, mediated environment of electronic and computational works that express her intense fascination with flamingos and her deep concerns about climate change.” Come for the augmented reality flock of flARmingos (above), and stay for Lucas’s unshakably haunting visions of rising sea levels. —ER