Independent recommendations in film, television, and literature. No algorithms. No sponsors. Just taste.
Latest Additions
Richard Gadd's searing autobiographical limited series tells the true story of a comedian stalked by a woman he showed kindness to, unraveling into a devastating exploration of trauma, complicity, and the stories we tell about ourselves.
Sean Baker's Palme d'Or winner follows Ani, a Brooklyn sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch, only to have the fairytale violently dismantled when his family sends enforcers to annul the union.
Edward Berger's propulsive Vatican thriller follows Cardinal Lawrence as he oversees the most secretive election in the world, only to discover that every candidate harbors a secret capable of shaking the Church to its foundations.
Editor's Selection
Hand-selected works that define the cultural moment
The most talked-about show of 2024 earned that attention honestly. Richard Gadd has created something that redefines what television can do with autobiography, trauma, and truth. It is difficult to watch and impossible to forget.
Screen
Richard Gadd's searing autobiographical limited series tells the true story of a comedian stalked by a woman he showed kindness to, unraveling into a devastating exploration of trauma, complicity, and the stories we tell about ourselves.
Sean Baker's Palme d'Or winner follows Ani, a Brooklyn sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch, only to have the fairytale violently dismantled when his family sends enforcers to annul the union.
Edward Berger's propulsive Vatican thriller follows Cardinal Lawrence as he oversees the most secretive election in the world, only to discover that every candidate harbors a secret capable of shaking the Church to its foundations.
Critics' Choice
“This is the rare Palme d'Or winner that is also genuinely, riotously entertaining. Mikey Madison's performance is one for the ages, and Baker has crafted a film that manages to be both a screwball comedy and a devastating commentary on class in America. Essential viewing.”Anora
Literature
Sally Rooney's fourth novel follows two grieving brothers whose romantic entanglements force them to confront what they owe each other and what it means to be truly known by another person.
Ed Park's wildly inventive debut interweaves a failing tech company, a secret history of Korean independence, and a conspiracy theory about a provisional government that never really dissolved.
Samantha Harvey's Booker Prize-winning novel tracks six astronauts aboard the International Space Station over a single day, turning 16 orbits of Earth into a meditation on beauty, fragility, and what it means to see our world from above.
“We would rather recommend three things that change your perspective than thirty things that fill your time.”
The FYC Editorial Philosophy
How It Works
Every recommendation starts with genuine engagement. We consume widely so you don't have to.
Each pick earns a thoughtful review explaining not just what it is, but why it matters right now.
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