What to watch this week: From an Errol Morris masterpiece to cautionary tales

From stories that will tug at your heartstrings to a fascinating deep dive into the world of art heists, this week’s got something for every film enthusiast. Here is this week’s rundown of the latest releases:

A still from ‘Pain Hustlers’
[Photo source: Netflix]

Helmed by director David Yates, who previously directed the final four Harry Potter films, this crime drama film is based on a book by National Magazine Award–finalist Evan Hughes about the pharma industry and opioid abuse, from the top brass to the pawns. 

The story follows a mother after she loses her job, and supports her daughter by accepting an employment opportunity born out of necessity. 

She embarks on a journey at a faltering pharmaceutical startup in order to make bank, unaware of the perilous racketeering conspiracy that awaits her.

Emily Blunt’s excellence as a performer is put on display again as this fact-based film attempts to tackle social issues and the capitalism that is at the epicentre of the American system. 

Based on a phenomenal New York Times article that became a book, this film will keep you engaged while addressing the crisis that is at the forefront of the American healthcare system.

Starring: Emily Blunt, Chris Evans, Catherine O’Hara, Chloe Coleman, Jay Duplass, Brian d’Arcy James, Amit Shah, Aubrey Dollar

Where to watch: Netflix

[Photo source: Netflix]

This documentary traces the most notorious art thief in France, Vjeran Tomic, who back in 2010 stole five paintings from the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (Museum of Contemporary Art in Paris)  in what is arguably regarded as the biggest art heist in the history of France. 

In his own words, Tomic takes the audience through his life and details how from a tender age, he endured multiple stints in prison and evolved into a contemporary incarnation of Robin Hood. 

He provides the audience with an elaborate account of how he executed the heists, showing the methods he employed and describing his departure from the museum with six paintings in his possession, among them a Matisse and a Picasso.

The fascinating story and firsthand account of Tomic makes this a must-watch this weekend. 

Starring: Vjeran Tomic

Where to watch: Netflix

[Photo source: Apple TV]

The celebrated and critically acclaimed documentary filmmaker Errol Morris (Thin Blue Line, The Fog of War) returns to screen with this portrait of the spy novelist David Cornwell, better known by his pen name John le Carré. 

As Morris pulls back the curtain on the storied life and career of le Carré, a writer of espionage novels who is often regarded as one of the greatest post-war era novelists of all time, the audience is gripped by the intense narrative. 

Making a distinction between the man David Cornwell and the enigma of le Carré, Morris pushes the cinematic envelope by going back and forth between the lines and serving up an engaging story. 

Starring: Jake Dove, Charlotte Hamblin, Garry Cooper

Where to watch: Apple TV

A still from ‘Crypto Boy’
[Photo source: Netflix]

Directed by Shady El-Hamus, this Dutch family drama follows a father-son duo as their story circles around the battle between olden traditional values and the momentum of youth. 

Seizing control of his own destiny, the son battles with his father to create the drama needed to propel this story forward, without making the plot convoluted with a lot of tech-talk. 

The film offers a laid-back introduction to the world of cryptocurrency and refrains from explaining the intricacies or the workings of the industry. It allows cryptocurrency to intensify the emotional dynamics between the two main characters, without ever siding with either. 

Starring: Evrim Akyigit, Nadia Amin, Volodymyr Barabanov

Where to watch: Netflix

Kaala Paani (Hindi)

Set in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, this drama series acts as a prescient warning, conveying a wealth of information to the audience, and showcasing writer Biswapati Sarkar’s (TVF Pitchers, Permanent Roommates) effortless skill in addressing significant themes.

The caution is imminent in the narrative of the show, as people with intertwined destinies find themselves in a fight for their lives as they battle nature’s wrath in the islands. 

The show is called Kaala Paani (black water) to allude to the inescapable jail in Port Blair, the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar islands. The desperation of the characters to escape this inescapable landscape filters through the story, as mayhem surrounds their existence. 

Starring: Mona Singh, Arushi Sharma, Ashutosh Gowariker

Where to watch: Netflix

[Photo source: Netflix]

A reminder of the mental health impact of a war, this documentary traces a girl displaced by the war in Ukraine as she heads to a summer camp in the Alps with her grandmother, testing the limits of her bravery.

As a toddler, Milana lost one leg in an explosion in the Russia-Ukraine war in 2015. She is now 10 years-old who with her grandmother, both refugees, are joined by other families fleeing the conflict with Russia.

While a brief and straightforward documentary, it carries a profound emotional impact and a heart-wrenching anti-war message. Witnessing Milana’s struggles and her journey leading up to her summer is both uplifting and heartrending.

Where to watch: Netflix