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The lesson of the leather suitcaseMom had slighted me. I was determined that I鈥檇 show her what life was like without me, and the old suitcase was perfect for my plan to run away.
With 鈥楽oul,鈥� Pixar animator finds an outlet for life鈥檚 big questionsIn an interview, Pixar director and Oscar winner Pete Docter talks about how his own search for meaning resulted in his latest project, 鈥淪oul.鈥�
From 鈥楢merican Utopia鈥� to 鈥楳a Rainey鈥�: The 10 best films of 2020The year鈥檚 top picks from the Monitor鈥檚 film critic include adaptations of Jane Austen鈥檚 鈥淓mma鈥� and August Wilson鈥檚 鈥淢a Rainey鈥檚 Black Bottom.鈥澛�
Romanian documentary chases Oscar, and the truth鈥淐ollective鈥� chronicles a 2015 nightclub fire and the aftermath that shook a country.
From H.E.R. to Taylor Swift, women deliver the best songs of 2020Music often kept people going in 2020, and some of the best songs were from female artists, including Taylor Swift, H.E.R., and Rina Sawayama.聽
FocusMultigenerational households confirm: The more the merrierMultigenerational households have been on the rise since the 1980s.聽Families value the practical advantages and the closeness across generations.
In a WordWhy the British are firmly set on 鈥榩udding鈥�
鈥楳a Rainey鈥� a triumph for Viola Davis and the late Chadwick BosemanThe new adaptation of 鈥淢a Rainey鈥檚 Black Bottom鈥� is an example of just how good filmed theater can be if both the play and the acting are first rate.
What do 鈥楨legy鈥� and 鈥楴omadland鈥� say about Hollywood鈥檚 view of rural life?At a time when the U.S. is divided along political and urban-rural lines, what do recent films about country lives add to the conversation?
Unpacking Great-Aunt Gertrude鈥檚 plum puddingAs a child, I knew her only as the quirky lady with the odd gifts. It turns out there was much more.
A holiday lift to play out a long year: Bring on the tubas (animation)While the pandemic has affected many traditions, thoughts of holidays past can be a source of great warmth and comfort. Even if those memories involve pouring rain and a cacophony of tubas.聽
First LookCharley Pride: A legacy of big hits and breaking racial barriersCountry music legend Charley Pride had more than 30 No. 1 hits and broke racial barriers in the music industry. He died Saturday.聽
Whose 鈥楴utcracker鈥�? Rethinking a Christmas staple.鈥淭he Nutcracker鈥� is a beloved holiday classic. But in recent years, choreographers have been reimagining the ballet to be more inclusive.
In a WordFlappers said 鈥榖aloney!鈥� to the idea that slang was for menHave you heard the phrases聽the cat鈥檚 pajamas聽or聽the bee鈥檚 knees? Flappers, bent on enjoying social freedoms obtained by聽suffragists, coined them both.
He doesn鈥檛 know it, but he鈥檚 in my book clubI felt a kinship with him immediately when I saw him during jury duty, but we did not speak. The books do the talking.
Holiday TV shows bring the comfy and cozy 鈥� and better reflect societyBesides cheerful decor and happy endings, diversity and acceptance have become part of the message of this year鈥檚 holiday TV fare.
First LookCurtain call for cinemas? Warner Bros. unveils plan to stream films.Warner Bros. Pictures announced that next year its films will debut simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max. The move has rattled the film industry as most cinemas remain closed and continue to struggle through the pandemic.
In a WordTips on how to become a 鈥榲iz.鈥� whizThese abbreviations聽are 鈥渇requently confused even by the most conscientious writers,鈥� according to Merriam-Webster. Here鈥檚 how to stop mixing them up.
Big personalities and politics: 鈥楳ank鈥� offers hijinks from old Hollywood鈥淢ank,鈥� a possible Oscar contender about a 鈥淐itizen Kane鈥� screenwriter, is at its most enjoyable when it explores the people behind the tinsel.
My helper was closer than I thoughtI was driving an SUV on a lonely road at night when a tire blew out. With no cellphone to call for help, who would rescue me?
