Current reads

Archaeologist, anthropologist and curator Dan Hicks in retraces the history of the sacking of Benin City in 1897 and militarist-capitalist colonialism perpetrated by the British in West Africa. The Benin bronzes have long been at the centre of the art restitution debate and Hicks examines the role of museums in perpetrating unfinished acts of violence by refusing to return looted artefacts. It’s a challenging read that includes detailed historic accounts but also theoretical concepts around the colonial World War Zero, the act of taking and the necrocraphy--or death record--of stolen objects. CS

by is a transcription of a set of interviews the author had with Sonia, a horse trainer. While this is not the kind of book I’d normally pick up, I was really moved by the authenticity in terms of form and voice, the life lessons learned behind the scenes at the race tracks. Sonia reveals how–through her own grit and hard work–she could make a name for herself in what was (at least then) a male-dominated world. NG

Digital highlights

The Vice News/Gimlet podcast provides a fascinating insight into US right-wing extremist groups. It breaks down their emergence and history, their ideology and iconography and also their role in the 6 January storming of the Capitol in Washington, DC. Years of reporting by host Ben Makuch come together as a compelling narrative that also discusses how fringe views are entering the mainstream and why so little has been done to track down and break apart these groups. CS

Essential viewing

’s third season is out on Netflix and it’s just the right remedy for the rainy days of Luxembourg “spring.” Matchmaker Sima Taparia expands her client-base from India and the US to London this time around and continues helping singles find their true match, dispensing plenty of wisdom on the way (“She doesn’t have to marry a poet. She can just read a book.”) and reality-checking picky partners in their search for perfection (“You will never get 100% of your checklist; if you get 60-70%, you should proceed.”). Binge-watch guilty pleasure alert. CS

Snappy dialogue, sneaky plotting, and a happily-ever-after: His Girl Friday (1940) stars Cary Grant as newspaper editor Walter Burns, who’s about to lose Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell), his best journalist (and ex-wife), to another man. Desperate to keep his ace reporter from leaving the business (and hoping to win her back), Burns dangles the story of a lifetime in front of Johnson. This classic film falls in the “comedy of remarriage” category, which allowed the divorced main characters to flirt with others before getting back together, thus avoiding censorship for adultery under the production code of the 1930s and ‘40s. The red velvet chairs and vintage film posters in the Cinémathèque de la Ville de Luxembourg fit the time period of the film perfectly. I’d recommend both His Girl Friday and the Cinémathèque, which is showing more . LL

Two drivers piss each other off--and again--and again--in a cataclysmic exposition of road rage that kicks off in the parking lot of a hardware store in southern California. This is the setup of (Netflix), a drama that, after this climactic opening sequence, spends the rest of its time interrogating the lives of the two drivers. As details emerge about them--one is richer, one is poorer, both are miserable, etc.--their stories intertwine, and intertwine, and intertwine to the point of a mutual chokehold, which only tapers off in the trippy and surprisingly well-crafted final episode. High marks to the writers for creating characters who matter, even if unbridled implosion wasn’t exactly what I’d been hoping for. JP

 is a Netflix series that follows two unlucky TV technicians who are framed for a murder they (probably) didn’t commit. The episodes are short, the characters amusing, and plenty of scenes poke fun at Italian stereotypes (think: overbearing Italian mothers, bribery at city hall, a mysterious lack of receipts, and an admirable devotion to food). LL

For foodies

in Bonnevoie--next to the Leon XIII bus stop--is the definition of a hole-in-the-wall gem. The entire restaurant is a single room, with a basic kitchen in the back where you can see the chef prepare your food and rickety chairs for diners in the front. Small menu, reasonable prices, fantastic food, friendly staff. You can’t go wrong with their bo bun. LL

Further afield: Paris

Campbell soup cans and Marilyn Monroe silkscreens are often what come to mind when one thinks of Andy Warhol. But how much do you know about Jean-Michel Basquiat? The “Basquiat x Warhol. Painting Four Hands” exhibition at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris puts the collaboration between the two artists in the spotlight. Basquiat’s background as a graffiti artist and Warhol’s use of recognisable objects or logos meld together to create a unique body of work. Warhol himself stated, “I think those paintings we’re doing together are better when you can’t tell who did which parts.” Take the train over to Paris and check it out for yourself--the runs until 28 August 2023, and the park next to the museum is a lovely place for a stroll before or after your visit. LL