The Current Cinema
“Mr. Jones†Remembers When Stalin Weaponized Famine
The horrors of the Holodomor, in which millions of Ukrainians starved, are dramatized, but not inflated, in Agnieszka Holland’s new film.
by Anthony Lane
The Art World
Edward Hopper and American Solitude
Pandemic or not, the artist’s masterly paintings explore conditions of aloneness as proof of belonging.
by Peter Schjeldahl
Scare Tactics
Does the Grim Reaper Wear Sunscreen?
As a protest against newly opened beaches, a Florida attorney patrols the sand, warning heedless sunbathers with the words “See you soon!â€
by Henry Alford
Profiles
Igor Levit Is Like No Other Pianist
He’s a political activist. His repertory is vast. And, during Germany’s shutdown, he streamed more than fifty performances from home. It’s made him question what a concert can be.
by Alex Ross
Letter from Europe
The Enduring Romance of the Night Train
The beguilements of the sleeper car have never seemed sharper than on the eve of a global lockdown.
by Anthony Lane
…and a bonus pick also by Anthony Lane:
Streaming Releases Test the Waters of a Changed Industry
Annals of Medicine
How Anthony Fauci Became America’s Doctor
An infectious-disease expert’s long crusade against some of humanity’s most virulent threats.
by Michael Specter
Letter from Chengdu
Life on Lockdown in China
Forty-five days of avoiding the coronavirus.
by Peter Hessler
Letter from Bolivia
The Fall of Evo Morales
A controversial socialist leader fled his country. Was he deposed—or did he escape justice?
by Jon Lee Anderson
Letter from Fuling
The Peace Corps Breaks Ties with China
The agency has always been viewed as removed from political spats. But the timing of the U.S.’s decision seems suspicious.
by Peter Hessler