I can’t, I’m a man. “Ladies First” (2026)

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directed by Thea Sharrock
© 2026 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

A comedy that made many men upset. Oh no, too bad I liked it and I’m going to recommend it now. We’re living in a patriarcal world, adapted to men’s needs and favouring them on many level. Imagine if the things were the exact opposite…? We get to know Damien (Sacha Baron Cohen), who’s an important guy in a fancy advertising agency. He always makes sure to disrespect women and show them how little they mean. Chauvinistic asshole, in other words. The CEO of the agency is about to retire and Damien seems to be the perfect candidate for that position. However, he needs to find his own replacement, and since he’s been recently accussed of not including enough women, he just chooses a random female employee and promotes her. Alex (Rosamund Pike) has been working many years here, so she believes the promotion is her personal achievement. Soon, she discovers how little her opinion means to Damien, they have an argument and Alex quits the job. While trying to humiliate her even more, Damien passes out and wakes up in a totally different reality. It’s matriarchy time! Now men are considered weak and incompetent, while women run the world. Damien returns to the office to see Alex being the CEO. For a chauvinist like him it’s a true nightmare. He has to find a way to change all of that, but in the meantime, he has to survive. The idea for this comedy is perfect and I can tell that it hit numerous men. Yes, dear male humans, this is what it’s like to be a woman in this world. To be silenced, omitted, ignored and disrespected. Men decide on everything, even on women-only cases. A man should tell me what to do with my body? A man should tell me when to have children (or at all)? A man should tell me to sit quietly and behave? Hell no, buddy. If you believe that women wouldn’t be able to do exactly what men do now, let me tell you – they wouldn’t. They would do it better, especially if no man could butt in. Anyway, except showing the sad reality of women, this comedy can also cheer you up and make you laugh a lot, so make sure to give it a try. And ignore lame ratings from insecure men.

My rating: 7/10
S.

The more suicidal people there are, the less suicidal people there are. “The Friend” (2024)

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directed by Scott McGehee & David Siegel
© 2024 Universal Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

There’s a dog. That should be enough to make you watch the film. No? Ugh, someone’s being picky. Alright, I’ll try to handle that. We get to know Iris (Naomi Watts), a writer who also works at a university. She learns about the death of her friend and mentor, Walter (Bill Murray). The man has committed suicide, leaving everyone speechless. Iris is deeply moved by his passing, but soon her life is about to change in a way she would never imagine. Walter had a dog. Not a puppy, not a little fluffy buddy, but a DOG. Apollo is a Great Dane and you know who gets to take care of him now? Yes, the heart-broken, single writer Iris, who definitely doesn’t need such responsibility in her life now. Or does she? At first, the woman sees that Apollo misses Walter and struggles to get used to the new situation. While she’s trying her best to help him, Iris realises that she’s also in a horrible grief. Turns out that the big doggo that steals her bed and causes unexpected problems might be the only way to move on. It’s one of those stories that feel like a warm scarf made by your granny. It’s still freezing outside, but the scarf keeps you warm and comfy. Perhaps I’m not being objective here, because I find dogs to be the absolute best friends to humans (and other creatures), but this film might be of great support if you’ve just lost someone important. It reminds us to stop being the firefighter that always saves others. We really need to stop for a moment and clean our own wounds before jumping into somebody else’s fire. Also, admitting that we’re not doing well is a sign of the biggest strength in the world. And if you want to make a step and admit it, perhaps a dog would be the greatest companion in the process. I hope you will feel comfy after watching this film.

My rating: 6/10
S.

You have something I’ve never had. “Deaf” (“Sorda”, 2025)

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directed by Eva Libertad
© 2025 A Contracorriente Films. All Rights Reserved.

Today’s film is very important to me and I hope you will find some time to watch it. Personally, I’m not deaf and nobody in my family is, but I support the deaf community, I’m learning my country’s sign language and I wish our world was more suitable for non-hearing people. In this story we get to know Ángela (Miriam Garlo), a deaf woman married to a hearing man named Héctor (Álvaro Cervantes). They make a loving couple and seem to understand each other perfectly. Obviously, Héctor has learnt Spanish Sign Language, so living together hasn’t been anyhow difficult. However, some changes are coming, because Ángela is pregnant, which can be very stressful in her situation. She’s curious whether her baby is going to be hearing or deaf, and how each possibility might influence their future life. What if the hearing baby won’t build a strong connection with her? What if she fails as a mother simply because she cannot hear? And also, what if she stays on her own, because her husband and child will be “living their hearing life”? Those fears are not made up and I find them serious. Deaf people are almost invisible for the hearing, which naturally forced them to be cautious, even reserved towards others. On the one hand, I understand this fear and anger – because everyone should feel included and welcome. But on the other hand, I see many deaf people prejudiced against the hearing, which may lead to reverse discrimination and paranoia. Like in this story, Ángela is so insecure that she loses trust towards her beloved husband. She forgets that this is her life partner – she only sees him as a hearing person. Or just because, let’s say, the child would like to learn to play some instrument, it doesn’t mean they disrespect their deaf mother. Yes, hearing people hear, deaf people don’t. Period. That’s how it is. But we can still coexist and even love each other if only we give up on any ridiculous sterotypes and prejudices. And it takes two to tango – both sides need to open their minds. Still, it is a fact that the deaf are discriminated in the everyday life and you may see numerous examples in this film. I hope you’ll keep them in mind and try to make a change, at least in your own approach and practices.

My rating: 7/10
S.

I make door. You close door. “Project Hail Mary” (2026)

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directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller
© 2026 Sony Pictures Releasing International. All Rights Reserved.

An adult version of a story about a little boy and his rock friend. Literally. Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) is a very dedicated teacher and a former molecular biologist. One day, he wakes up in a spaceship, not remembering a thing. And they say that nerds don’t know how to party, huh? Turns out, he was chosen to go on a space mission with two other specialists and try to save our planet Earth from… freezing. I won’t even try to explain the whole problem, because I’m no scientist and to me it’s just “blah blah blah our planet is in danger blah blah blah”, but the idea seems fun (despite the potential catastrophy). Unfortunately for Grace, the two other colleagues have died, so he has to continue the mission on his own. Soon, a new companion joins him – an alien that looks like a rock on five legs. Grace finds a way to translate its language and communicate. The alien (James Ortiz), named Rocky by the very creative biologist, turns out to have a similar mission. Its planet is also in danger, because of the same reason, so it’s trying to find a way to save it. The newly buddies join forces and try to solve the space riddle together. Sounds like a cute adventure film? Well, it sort of is. The relation between those two is truly adorable, but it’s also a lesson about the dark side of humanity. I don’t want to spoil too much, because the suspense makes the story even better. However, I know that Rocky is an alien, but I believe this films is a metaphor for friendship beyond borders. That if only we cared enough to stay patient and try to communicate, we might meet the best buddies in our life, perhaps better than those beside us. Even if those two space warriors are from two different planets (literally), they shared a common goal. Do you think a human and a rock-like alien can actually save the universe? Well, that’s for you to see. But I hope this story will encourage you to stay more open-minded in life. And choose your own path.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Let me sleep. “Insomnia” (2002)

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directed by Christopher Nolan
© 2002 Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Nolan cannot make a film that is clear and simple. It has to be a mix of several stories mingled into one, and yet you feel like he could easily add at least three more. I’ll try to introduce you to this film in the easiest way possible, but mind the fact that I’m explaining Nolan’s production. Anyway, there’s a crime in Nightmute, Alaska. A teenager is found murdered without any evidence left. Since the case seems complex, the local officers request help from two LA detectives – Will Dormer (Al Pacino) & Hap Eckhart (Martin Donovan). While trying to catch the murderer, Dormer makes a huge mistake – he shoots his colleague instead. The man suffers from insomnia, which led to his lack of clear thinking. Eckhart dies and Dormer knows he has to lie about this situation. If he admits that he’s the one shooting, that may be the end of his career. Especially, since Eckhart was about to testify againt Dormer in front of Internal Affairs, so it would be obvious that the murder wasn’t accidental. That is why the detective says his colleague was shot by the suspect. Unfortunately, not every clue supports this version. As I said, the story is complex, but very engaging as well. At some point, you’re not sure whether the protagonist is the good guy or the bad one. It seems like he’s an excellent detective, but on the other hand, he’s made a rookie mistake due to his personal issues. The longer you watch the film, the more it looks as if you, as a viewer, were dealing with insomnia. The pace of the story and even the light resemble such insomniac mood. Although this thriller was made over 20 years ago, you may still feel an incredible tension. Besides, in my opinion, older thrillers were more… thrilling. The new productions are rather predictable and copy-pasted. So if you want to see a classic, try to solve a mysterious case and join an insomnia simulator – this film should satisfy all those needs.

My rating: 7/10
S.

I want us all to scream as loud as we can. “The Teachers’ Lounge” (“Das Lehrerzimmer”, 2023)

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directed by İlker Çatak
© 2023 Alamode Film. All Rights Reserved.

People say that teachers are privileged – they don’t always work full 8 hours per day, they have free summer holidays, they generally just show up and teach – nothing spectacular, right? Well, not really. Teachers are not only there to educate students, but also to support them and react to any unexpected situations that may occur at school. And that’s even worse than not having summer holidays. In this film we get to know Carla Nowak (Leonie Benesch), a dedicated teacher, who has to solve an uncomfortable issue. One of her new students is accused of theft, especially since the boy is found having a lot of money in his wallet. The staff are sure about his fault, but at the meeting with the child’s parents Carla finds out that it’s just his allowance. In order to clear the boy’s name, his teacher starts her own investigation and bumps into one of her colleagues stealing money. Carla tries to talk to the woman, but she aggressively denies doing anything wrong. The case ends up at the principal’s office, who takes the situation very seriously and puts the other woman on leave. That escalates into a big drama, especially, since the accused teacher’s son, Oskar (Leonard Stettnisch), is a student at the same school. Even though his mother is no longer around, the child has to deal with all the gossips, which makes it difficult for him to stand. At some point, he decides to turn Carla’s worklife into absolute hell, because she’s the one responsible for his mom’s dismissal. What she did was right, because otherwise, an innocent boy would be seen as a thief. However, now there’s Oskar, angry and helpless child, who just wants to save his mom. The general idea and the script are amazing, because it shows how powerless teachers can be at work. They often have to survives battles without any weapons, which leads to their professional burnout and negative influence on their private life. I find the ending absolutely touching, and if you want to see what it means to be a good teacher, you should consider this film an important lesson.

My rating: 8/10
S.

Well, murder can be an art, too. “Rope” (1948)

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directed by Alfred Hitchcock
© 1948 Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Give men a rope and they’ll come up with the most ridiculous thing ever… Today, I’d like to recommend you a film by the king of thrill, which is perhaps less popular than the screaming lady in the shower or the creep in the window (although I love both of those). In this story, we get to know Brandon and Phillip (John Dall & Farley Granger), two young men who decide to murder their friend. Apparently, that was a male hobby back then. Why do they want to commit the crime? Is this poor guy some enemy of theirs? Not at all. Brandon and Phillip want to prove that they are better than others and in order to feel so, they dream of a murder that nobody will even solve. It requires incredible intelligence, cleverness and control over oneself and everything else. After killing the victim with a rope (that’s the toy from the title!), they hide the body in a wooden chest and… organise a party in the flat. Insane? Oh yeah. But also quite intriguing. You see, committing a crime is easy, but playing with fire and controlling it – that’s a different story. The murderers feel incredible joy and pride seeing all the guests at the crime scene, so unaware and innocent… The rest is for you to see, but get ready for a psychological rollercoaster. Some may say that nothing really happens in the film, which is kind of true, but the real action takes place in the minds of the characters and also your own mind as a viewer. You may realise that no matter how long we analyse motives behind crimes, people will always suprise you with someting unique. It’s a great production for a longer discussion or a movie club. Also, Hitchcock played with fire himself because in the 1940s he managed to make a film about homosexuals. Well, it’s not officially stated anywhere in the script, but the crew working on the production had no doubts about their intentions. Although the actual criminals, Leopold and Loeb, who murdered a teenager in 1924 weren’t ever considered a romantic couple. Haven’t I mentioned that “Rope” is based on a real story? Well… are you surprised? Strage people have been here since forever, so you better watch out and check any possible chests.

My rating: 7/10
S.

I think I’m going to start loving my body actually a bit more. “Je m’appelle Agneta” (2026)

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directed by Johanna Runevad
© 2026 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

I can’t express how much joy this comedy brought me. Even though I’m younger than the main character, I was cheering her this whole time and hope to be equally brave when I’m older. Agneta (Eva Melander) is a Scandinavian middle-aged woman that loses her job and feels lonely despite being married. She makes a crazy decision to go to France and become an au-pair to some Swedish boy. Her husband finds it ridiculous, but Agneta wishes to experience a different culture and continue working. When she arrives in France, the boy turns out to be an elderly man named Einar (Claes Månsson). And indeed, he’s so eccentric that a caretaker is needed to keep him safe. At first Agneta gets scared and thinks of going home, but she decides to stay and try to get on with her ward. The longer she’s in France, the more familiar she becomes with its culture. Thanks to the friendship with Einar, the woman also rediscovers herself. Being a terrified housewife with numerous complexes is definitely not Agneta. It’s a beautiful and hilarous story reminind us that self-worth might be found at any stage of life. Of course, it’s best to find it early, but, as they say, better late than never. I wish everyone to see this film, because no matter who you are, we all need such good energy boost. I know it sounds cheap, but I mean it – life is too short to worry. What will you remember when you’re old? That you looked fat in that dress or that someone was staring at you doing something? Or will you remember all the cool things that you’ve achieved and experienced? I no longer recall most anxious thoughts of mine, but I do remember where I’ve been, what I’ve done and I feel so proud of myself for being that brave. Send this film to your mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters and also make sure to watch it yourself. Wish you a very joyful evening!

My rating: 7/10
S.

Every conversation I have about chess leads to anal beads. “Untold: Chess Mates” (2026)

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directed by Thomas Tancred
© 2026 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

Do you think that chess is such a relaxing activity for the elderly? Sitting in the park on Sunday and chit-chatting while playing? Not at all, my dear, not at all. When I was little, I was taught to play chess by my neighbour, and I remember how fascinating it was to me. However, I feel like some people get obsessed with it too much. We often talk about addictions to alcohol or drugs, but having a passion that takes over our life might be equally dangerous. In this documentary, you get to meet players, for whom losing a game is unacceptable. Even if you’re not a fan of chess or you don’t really follow any news about it (like me), the film should still be quite entertaining for you. Imagine the World Champion, the guy that wins without much visible effort, who one day loses to a total newbie. Shame? Panic? Anger? Perhaps all three… Magnus Carlsen, unbeatable chess player lost a game in 2022 to Hans Niemann, a random player, known for his online activity. Hans liked to play chess on the Internet and stream his games, where he already presented himself as a clever opponent. However, despite all his admirable successes and techniques, there were many people accussing him of cheating. Magnus also didn’t trust Hans, especially, since he didn’t lose only once to him. The documentary lets us investigate and at some point we will even reach the topic of sex accessories. Who would have known that those cute nerdy chess players might be hiding a dirty little secret… But I don’t want to spoil too much, because I was shocked myself and I wish you to exprience the story in the same way. Perhaps some of you find a new motivation to learning this game… who knows?

My rating: 7/10
S.

Birdie Num Num. “The Party” (1968)

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directed by Blake Edwards
© 1968 United Artists. All Rights Reserved.

We need a bit of comedy to relax, right? Recently, I’ve been watching quite difficult productions and I feel like letting my brain have some days off. Today, I’d like to recommend you an adorable and horribly goofy film from the 60s, which is a proof that white people create irrational problems. But first, let me share a few words about the plot. Hrundi V. Bakshi (Peter Sellers) is an actor of Indian origin. He’s a bit clumsy and makes a huge mess on a film set. The head of the studio wants to write his name on the blacklist, but accidentally the actor ends up on the guest list of the upcoming party. Hrudi gets an invitation and accepts it, which means he ends up in a huge richman’s house with lots of vain white human parasites. It’s clear that it’s not the social level he’s used to and most interractions with others turn out quite funny. At some point, Hrundi meets Michèle (Claudine Longet), an aspiring actress, who doesn’t seem to be prejudiced against him purely based on his skin colour. The party continues and what comes out of it is for you to see. Many reviewers were outraged that someone dared to paint their face brown and pretend to be Indian. That’s so disrespectful! Mhm… yeah, and in the meantime, people in India loved the comedy. Even the Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi recommended this film, praising it for Hrundi’s lines. And it’s true that the Indian actor is presented as a very good human being. Plus, in Bollywood productions they often make fun of themselves and nobody gets actually offended. So some white people should get the sticks out of their butts, sit on the sofa and enjoy a good laugh straight from the 60s.

My rating: 6/10
S.