Movie Club

These forum posts aren’t meant to be reviews or critiques—I’m not here to analyze every frame or debate the acting choices.

What I care about most is how a film makes me feel, what it stirs inside, and what I walk away with. Maestro (2023), directed by and starring Bradley Cooper, did just that—it stayed with me in quiet, surprising ways.

There’s been a lot of mixed talk around this film, from its storyline to performances. But I was drawn to it immediately because I’m always fascinated by biopics of artists. They’re usually rich with complexity, and Maestro is no exception.

What spoke to me most was the contrast in Leonard Bernstein’s life between the solitude of the composer and the public persona of the conductor. That beautiful tension between turning inward to create and turning outward to perform—it’s something so many artists wrestle with. The film touches on this duality gently but…

I watched Marriage Story shortly after my own divorce, and it truly broke my heart. It touched something so personal in me—watching how a family, once so connected and loving, can unravel in the most painful, human way. The film shows how divorce can begin with good intentions, how both partners can still care for one another, and yet how quickly things can deteriorate under pressure, especially when outside forces begin to shape the narrative.

The depiction of the lawyers was devastating. Not villainous, just… systemic. The way the process began to shape the outcome, and how, once set in motion, it pushed them further apart—past a point of no return. It’s like watching something beautiful slip through your fingers. And it’s made even more painful by the fact that you can still see the love underneath. You know they both care. But the structure they're caught in has such momentum that…

As always, I have such a soft spot for historical fiction. For me, there’s something magical about being transported into another time—witnessing how people lived, loved, and endured through hardship. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society pulled me right into post-WWII England with its richly crafted world, moving characters, and quietly profound message.

But what made this film especially close to my heart—and so deeply aligned with the mission of Seekers Circle—is its celebration of book clubs. The story centers around a group of individuals who come together to share books in the middle of war and fear. What begins as a cover story to avoid trouble becomes something real, intimate, and deeply transformative.

As a lifelong lover of book clubs, I was so touched by how the film portrayed the magic that happens when people gather to read, reflect, and share their inner worlds.

Book clubs are at…

I discovered Walk With Me after reading two of Thich Nhat Hanh’s books, and by that time, I already felt deeply connected to his teachings. His words had guided me toward a more mindful and compassionate way of living, but seeing him on screen—watching him walk, speak, and simply exist—was an entirely different experience.

There’s something incredibly powerful about witnessing his presence, his calm, and his way of being in the world.

This documentary gave me a more intimate look at his life, his monastic community, and the mindfulness practices I had only read about. It made me long to visit Plum Village one day—to step into that space of deep peace and connection, to walk the same paths, and to immerse myself in the energy of those who have dedicated their lives to mindful living. Watching this film felt like a meditation in itself, a gentle invitation to slow…