Essential viewing
I recently saw the Ukrainian animated film Mavka: The Forest Song (2023), which was one of the movies screened during the annual Cineast festival here in Luxembourg. Based on Slavic folklore, the film tells the story of a forest spirit named Mavka and a human musician named Lukas. It features vivid colours and imaginative landscapes, creative characters (have you ever wondered how a cat-frog hybrid would hop around? Or what kind of pastries it would like to eat?), amusing moments, detailed references to Ukrainian culture, lovely music, a manipulative villain, and--most importantly--good triumphing over evil and a happily-ever-after. LL
The latest in Kenneth Branagh’s spree of Agatha Christie adaptations is the credibly spooky A Haunting in Venice (2023), which despite missing the potential for fun--I mean, it’s a murder mystery that takes place in a haunted Venetian mansion during a thunderstorm----is nevertheless an ideal appetiser for the nearly-upon-us Halloween season. JP
Last summer, of series 1 and series 2 of the 1980s cult BBC TV political sitcom . This autumn, I found series 3 and both seasons of its follow-on on. At the risk of repeating myself, it has held up extraordinarily well and the doublespeak sequences are delightful. AG
(Looking for more movies and TV? Read of reviews.)
For foodies
I enjoy having lunch at Thanh’s, which has a location on Boulevard Royal (opposite the Hotel Royal) and in Kirchberg’s Infinity complex (Philharmonie tram stop). The Vietnamese bò bún is excellent: rice noodles with sliced cucumbers and carrots, accompanied by crunchy eggrolls and your choice of tofu (pictured), chicken, beef or shrimp. Their pho is also tasty and flavourful--a perfect option for chillier weather. LL
The bò bún with tofu at Thanh’s: the normal portion comes with two eggrolls; the large version has four eggrolls. Photo: Lydia Linna
Outdoors with family
When’s the last time you saw a raccoon, a real one, up close? Raccoons occupy a bizarrely fundamental space in our collective headspaces, considering that you rarely engage with them and, if you do, usually via cartoons or some other medium. But everybody knows a raccoon, has long since anthropomorphised them (cute thieves who wash their weird little hands!)--so why don’t you take a few minutes out of your busy life and go actually look at one? You deserve to be re-enchanted. Find a bunch of them at the in (duh) Esch. It’s free and super kid-friendly. (You shouldn’t need an extra-raccoon reason to go, but it also has deer, goats, rabbits, etc.) JP