Hump Day recommendations- 02/01/2023

Dream: in Cuban. “We’re all tied to the past by flukes,” muses one of the voices at the end of the novel “Dreaming in Cuban,” a lushly written, quasi-magical account of how the Cuban Revolution ripples through the lives of three generations of women in a Cuban family, between Havana and Brooklyn. Ambivalent exile, fickle memory, troubled romance, and the ghosts of the dead walking among the living — author Cristina García’s acclaimed 1993 debut has it all. Plus, if you read it now you’ll be ready for the long-awaited sequel, which drops in July. - Alex

Listen: “Stones Absorbing Sound,” by Paint Nothing. The band’s frontman, John Clare, was a dear friend, a post-punk aficionado, a riveting storyteller, a wordsmith, a voracious reader, and the sweetest human you’d ever want to meet. John died suddenly on Jan. 3 at age 49 in Cambridgeshire, leaving behind a family who couldn’t have loved him more and a legion of fans/friends. Enjoy the tune and wait for the end for a poem he reads about the trailblazing female Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron. “Chemical canvas captures a dream …” RIP, John. - Tracy

Watch: “RRR.” It's insane. Also goofy. And over the top. But I love it. Whatever the haters say, don't miss this epic Bollywood film about two Indian freedom fighters who battle tigers, each other, and, of course, the evil British Empire. They also dance like pros and have a bromance montage for the ages. Perfect for when you've had a long day and just need some mindless fun. — Carlos

Watch: “Lupin” This French series made a splash when it debuted in 2021, and it’s easy to see why by simply watching the first episode, which has one of the most impressively executed sequences ever filmed. Omar Sy stars as Assane Diop, a man inspired by master thief Arsene Lupin. To say anything more is to give too much away, except to say that “Lupin” has given pop culture a suave, fiercely intelligent character who should rank alongside the likes of Sherlock Holmes and the Scarlet Pimpernel.-Ben

Watch: “Fremont” – The American Dream is a thing of folklore and fantasy. But for Donya – an Afghan woman who translated for the US army in her home country – starting over in Fremont, Calif., where she works her way up at a fortune cookie manufacturing business, is yet another trauma. Played by the exquisite Anaita Wali Zada, herself a refugee with no acting experience, this new film is a masterpiece and sheds light on the often heart-sickening process of starting anew. – Gabrielle