海角大神

Simple happiness

鈥淚ndependent Lens鈥� presents , about 9-year-old Buddhist monk Peyangki who has grown up in rural Bhutan without electricity and is dissatisfied with the simple life. When he travels to the capital with his uncle to buy a TV, he encounters modern luxuries for the first time. Will they bring pleasure to his life? Directed by Thomas Balm猫s, it airs Nov. 17 on PBS at 10 p.m. 聽

Ragtime pop

Scott Bradlee is trying to create an alternative universe of pop music. A jazz pianist by training, he takes contemporary songs and gives them a vintage ragtime treatment with his band . He started by recording and uploading videos right from his living room. They drew such a following that Postmodern Jukebox just wrapped up its first tour. Check it out on the YouTube channel ScottBradleeLovesYa.

Idiosyncopation

There鈥檚 nothing like discovering new music as original as , a multitracked solo project by Connecticut native Merrill Garbus. Sounding at times like a playground full of chanting, harmonizing kids (all voiced by Garbus) banging on whatever鈥檚 handy (buckets, soda bottles), it鈥檚 a cockeyed and witty celebration of life鈥檚 surprises. Start with the album鈥檚 hit 鈥淲ater Fountain.鈥澛� You鈥檒l grin from ear to ear.

Deadly mud

Earlier this year, a landslide devastated Oso, Wash., killing 43 people. A few months later, a landslide in Afghanistan killed an estimated 400. Are more and more of these disasters in our future? In scientists discuss why they happen and whether radar monitoring technology can provide warning in time for people to escape. 鈥淜iller Landslides鈥� airs on PBS on Nov. 19 at 9 p.m.

Japanese anime

The animated film , which legendary director Hayao Miyazaki says is his last movie, is a visual stunner. The movie is based on the life of Jiro Horikoshi, who is entranced by flight but never thinks through the dangers that lie in wait (Horikoshi designed the planes used by Japan in World War II). 鈥淭he Wind Rises鈥� is available on DVD and Blu-ray Nov. 18.聽