Cantora Nocturna

  Lapvona: The modern obsession with the tragic past  Lapvona is Ottessa Moshfeghs's latest novel, published in 2022. It follows the story of the delusional boy Marek, who lives in the medieval village of Lapvona, and finds himself suffering and struggling against mishappens and changes that test his faith in God. Lapvona blew up in social media for being a grotesque, vomit inducing, appalling book, branded as a novel for weird girls who like gut wrenching literature and religious imagery. Naturally, I had to read it. This was my first time reading an Ottessa Moshfegh book, despite my excitement to read her, I didn't necessarily have big expectations. I don't doubt Ottessa Moshfegh’s skills, especially since this seems to be her most unique piece of work so far, distant from her previous books, but perhaps for this exact same reason Lapvona wasn't the correct starting point.  From the beginning both Lapvona and Marek are described as any medieval peasant would be. Poo...

  May December thoughts    May December, starring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, directed by Todd Haynes, tells the story of a scandalous couple, whom 20 years after their tabloid affair, welcomed an actress that wanted to dig up the nature of their relationship for her latest movie. Those are more or less the words of the synopsis found on google, IMDB, Letterboxd and most social media, although I'll admit, it's a bit misleading. May December is not a drama, not a soapy romance movie, and the relationship portrayed is not (just) a "tabloid scandal romance" it is a grotesque -but human- case of grooming, manipulation, coercion and and exploration of all the aspects that make up this case. It's not an easy watch, it's rather tense, and there is not one minute of the movie that is not filled with suspense, it might as well be the kind of horror movie that makes you want to crawl out of your own skin. The slow zooming of the camera, and the scary loud violin...