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Quick Take: A Darkly Comic Look at Mortality in Chinese CinemaBeing Towards Death opens in UK cinemas on 5 June, offering a chaotic first half‑hour before settling into a bittersweet ensemble piece about a hospital’s “Ward 10 Fearless Squad.” Director Chen Sicheng trades his blockbuster Detective Chinatown formula for a meditation on entropy, using humor to explore how patients confront the end of life.How Chen Sicheng Marries Hospital Humor with Existential QuestionsThe plot follows caregiver Xiaobing (Jiang Long), who teeters on a rooftop after a failed robot‑care scheme, only to be recruited by the hospital director into a mental‑health study for terminal cancer patients. He joins a motley crew – property mogul Mau (Cai Ming), obedient first‑born Bowen (Huang Yi), and the scheming poppet Little Bing (Ye Quanxi) – and convinces aspiring director Dao (Wang Zichuan) to document their lives. The film’s self‑referential moments, including Dao’s constant quoting of Chen and a cameo by sixth‑generation auteur Jia Zhangke, underscore its meta‑commentary on Chinese filmmaking.Box‑Office Prospects and Release WindowWith a limited UK release beginning 5 June, the film targets both art‑house audiences and fans of Chen’s earlier commercial work. No official budget or opening‑week figures have been disclosed, but the combination of a recognizable director and a timely, socially conscious premise positions it for modest box‑office returns and potential festival circulation.Why the Film Signals a Shift in Mainland Comedy‑DramaBy placing comedy inside a hospice, the movie challenges the genre’s traditional escapism, reflecting a growing appetite for stories that blend levity with serious social issues. Its focus on mental‑health interventions and the humanization of terminal patients may encourage other Chinese creators to tackle health‑related narratives, expanding the thematic range of mainstream cinema.What to Expect from the Film’s Journey Beyond ChinaIf domestic audiences respond positively, Being Towards Death could secure wider Asian distribution and possibly a streaming deal, amplifying its discussion of mortality to a global viewership. Critics will likely continue to compare Chen’s tonal shift with the work of auteurs like Jia Zhangke, watching to see whether the film’s “bittersweet” ambition matures into a new sub‑genre of Chinese hospital comedy‑drama.

The Photographic Journey of Billy Dosanjh In the winter of 1962-3, when snow blanketed the industrial landscape of Walsall's Black Country, a newly arrived elderly Sikh man stood beneath an old carriage lamp, seemingly seeing snow for the first time. This moment, captured in Billy Dosanjh's epic photographic reconstruction 'After the Storm,' epitomizes his ability to freeze time and preserve cultural memory. Backed by a National Heritage Lottery Fund grant, Dosanjh has transformed oral histories from first and second-generation migrants into evocative images that evoke the work of American realist painter Edward Hopper or photographer Jeff Wall, but with a distinct British Asian perspective. Recreating a Bygone Industrial Era Dosanjh's exhibition 'Paths You Walk' at the New Art Gallery Walsall presents a gripping collection of photographs, films, and installations that meticulously reconstruct the post-war immigrant experience. The artist painstakingly sourced period details—Vimto advertisements, vintage cars, authentic clothing—to recreate scenes from the late 1950s onward when Punjabi men arrived in the Black Country to work in furnaces that native British workers had abandoned. The exhibition features real-life locals from Walsall districts like Caldmore, Palfrey, Pleck, and The Butts, areas that saw significant South Asian immigration. Cultural Significance and Personal Connection What makes Dosanjh's work particularly powerful is its deep personal connection. His own father arrived from the Punjab in 1967 at age 14, eventually buying a house and working in foundries before establishing the Rainbow Cafe—a business that features in Dosanjh's photographs. The artist explains his motivation: "When I do my work, I want the people to enter the space of their ancestors psychologically." This approach is evident in pieces like 'PayDay,' recreating an early 1970s pub, 'Furnacemen' depicting Sikh workers being lectured by a white foreman, and 'Dayshift' showing Sikh friends huddling around braziers. Contemporary Relevance in a Divided Britain Dosanjh's humane depictions of Sikh life have taken on sudden topicality as counterpoints to racist narratives promoted by far-right politicians. The exhibition emerged shortly after the jailing of Vickrum Digwa for stabbing student Henry Nowak with a ceremonial Sikh knife. In an era of increasing racial tension, Dosanjh's work serves as both historical documentation and cultural affirmation, celebrating the contributions of Sikh immigrants to British society while acknowledging the challenges they faced. Future Projects and Expanding Horizons The Walsall exhibition represents just one chapter in Dosanjh's ongoing documentation of British Asian experiences. He is currently developing similar projects for Stoke and Nottingham, while preparing to make a feature film about the 2005 race riots in Birmingham's Lozells and Handsworth districts. "There was a Pakistani-owned beauty product shop and a conflict arose between the Caribbean community and young Muslim men who, after 7/7, felt quite confused," Dosanjh explains of his planned film. "I thought I need to make my film here, about this place, because it's all there—different communities living together, empire, young people, confused identities." The Artistic Legacy of 'Paths You Walk' Through his work, Dosanjh has created what he describes as "a way of celebrating who you are." The exhibition continues at the New Art Gallery Walsall until July 12, offering visitors a chance to witness the transformation of industrial Britain through the eyes of its Sikh community. As Dosanjh himself reflects, "I never feel more alive than when I'm in the middle of doing something like this. It brings a good feeling for everybody really."

The Cult of Eternal Values Documentaries about cults all have the same task, at which they nearly all fail: explaining exactly how so many people fell under the spell of a man (it’s always a man) who was, to outside observers, so obviously a damaged charlatan. None of it makes sense; it wouldn’t count as a cult if it did. The Rise of Frederick von Mierers Bring Me the Beauties: A Model Cult does a messy job of telling the story of Frederick von Mierers, who spent the 1980s luring models into his spiritual enlightenment society, Eternal Values. Von Mierers’ life was all lies, chaos and mystery and it would be hard to set it out coherently, however diligently you tried. But this is like trying to keep up with an erratic bar-room raconteur who keeps glossing over the important bits so they can skip on to the next bit of gossip. Admittedly, each new piece of info is wildly juicy. The Early Years of Frederick von Mierers The early years of Frederick von Mierers are murky, but the key facts are that, as a 40ish former model, he was an elegant socialite, living in an apartment in midtown Manhattan and frequenting Studio 54, where the doormen would pull back the velvet rope to let him sashay past the crowds and walk straight in. He had inherited wealth and alien good looks, somewhere between Christopher Walken, Gary Numan and a svelte Dolph Lundgren. In 1978 he suffered an ear infection, and when his fever subsided he announced that his body had become the vessel for a being from the red giant star, Arcturus. The Power of Eternal Values With an extraterrestrial glint in his already piercing eyes, Von Mierers began presenting a public-access television show where he spread the word about the benefits of a healthy diet, the power of controlled emotions – the notion of romantic love was an instrument of “the most diabolical and the most evil forces in this world” – and the importance of recognising that material possessions were not a route to happiness, all these being wisdom direct from the cosmos. The Dark Side of Eternal Values Ordinary punters sent cheques to Eternal Values for astrological readings; members of the inner circle got to share Frederick’s apartment, where they would sometimes wake to find that he had applied a mint-scented face mask to them during the night. Less adorably, he fostered a culture in which anyone who stepped out of line was ruthlessly pilloried in recriminatory interventions known as “slamming sessions”. As well as fearing the loss of the gang’s favour, the Eternal Values foot soldiers anticipated a re-alignment of the Earth’s magnetic poles, foreseen by the Arcturians, which prompted the organisation to purchase a second base in the North Carolina mountains that would survive the earthquakes and tsunamis to come. The Motivation Behind the Cult What’s never a mystery with cults is the motivation of the leader: it’s always sex and/or money, and, for Von Mierers, it was both. Our main witness is a man named John Hoyt, who under the name Hoyt Richards was one of the highest-paid male models of the late 1980s and 90s, regularly appearing in shoots with Cindy Crawford and the like. After completing jobs in Milan, the Caribbean or Los Angeles, John would return to sleeping on the floor of the EV flat, handing all his spare money to Frederick in return for ethereally powerful “gemstones” that may in retrospect have been costume jewellery. Occasionally Frederick would invite to his room young men, whose spiritual insights were so penetrating that John would be asked to hand them $100 on their way out. The Legacy of Eternal Values In the last episode of Bring Me the Beauties, there are desperately moving scenes as the admirably frank Hoyt recalls his agony at realising, a few years after Von Mierers’ death from an Aids-related illness, that he had abandoned his family and friends for nothing. Hoyt now works as an exit counsellor, trying to make cult members understand that they’re in one. As this programme discovers, however, why people join cults is hard to understand.

The Guardian’s Weekly Pick: A Curated Line‑up of Seven Streamable SeriesThis week’s roundup showcases a spectrum of genres and platforms, offering viewers new reasons to log in across Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video and Crime+Investigation.Intergenerational Romance Gets Cringe‑Funny in Alice and Steve (Disney+)Created by Sex Education writer Sophie Goodhart, the comedy follows middle‑aged best friends Nicola Walker and Jemaine Clement as their bond unravels when Steve falls for Alice’s 26‑year‑old daughter Izzy. The series leans into the messiness of the situation, delivering both excruciating dinner‑party moments and nuanced, sympathetic storytelling.True‑Crime Reflection in Rob Rinder: The Crime I Can’t Forget (Crime+Investigation)Former barrister Rob Rinder revisits the 2005 Liverpool murder case of Lucy Hargreaves, exploring courtroom dynamics and the lasting impact on those involved. The series blends archival interviews with fresh perspectives, offering a sobering look at due process.Global Food Adventures with Best of the World With Antoni Porowski (Disney+)Queer Eye’s culinary star Antoni Porowski travels to London, Paris, Mexico City and New York, immersing himself in each city’s food culture. While some choices feel familiar, his enthusiasm and on‑the‑ground curiosity make the four‑part series a lively cultural tour.Iconic Children’s Education Returns on Sesame Street (Netflix)After a period of uncertainty, Sesame Street is back on Netflix with new episodes that push the envelope—including a space‑mission storyline and inventive mid‑air repairs—while retaining its signature blend of sweetness and moral clarity.Teen Summer Romance Revived in Every Year After (Prime Video)Adapted from Carley Fortune’s bestseller, the series follows Persephone “Percy” Fraser (Sadie Soverall) and Sam Florek (Matt Cornett) across six summers in Barry’s Bay, Canada. Fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty will recognize its nostalgic, soft‑focus aesthetic and slow‑burn romance.LGBTQ+ Family Drama Proud (Netflix)Set against the backdrop of a small‑town community, Proud explores the challenges and triumphs of a gay couple navigating acceptance, family expectations and personal growth. The series adds a heartfelt voice to Netflix’s growing queer‑focused catalogue.Release Calendar and Platform DistributionAlice and Steve – Disney+, from Monday 8 JuneRob Rinder: The Crime I Can’t Forget – Crime+Investigation, from Monday 8 JuneBest of the World With Antoni Porowski – Disney+, from Monday 8 JuneSesame Street – Netflix, from Monday 8 JuneEvery Year After – Prime Video, from Wednesday 10 JuneProud – Netflix, from Monday 8 JuneWhy This Week’s Line‑up Signals a Shift Toward Inclusive, Cross‑Genre StreamingThe selections illustrate streaming services’ strategic push for diverse storytelling—mixing comedy, true‑crime, culinary travel, classic children’s content, teen romance and LGBTQ+ narratives. By offering fresh titles simultaneously, platforms aim to capture fragmented audiences and reinforce subscriber loyalty.What to Expect From Next Week’s Curated PicksGiven the current emphasis on representation and genre‑blending, upcoming recommendations are likely to feature more international co‑productions, limited‑run documentaries and series that foreground under‑represented voices, keeping the streaming ecosystem vibrant and competitive.

The Life and Legacy of Anthony Head Anthony Head, the actor best-known for playing Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has died aged 72. “He passed away peacefully of complications due to pneumonia, surrounded by his family,” his daughters Emily and Daisy Head said in a statement. Early Life and Career Head was born in Camden, London, and was raised by artistic parents. His father was a documentary film-maker, while his mother was an actor. He began his professional career on the stage, starring in the 1978 West End revival of Godspell alongside Su Pollard. Notable Roles Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer Rupert Mannion in Ted Lasso Recurring role in Little Britain Roles in The Iron Lady and The Inbetweeners Movie Tributes and Legacy Tributes have been pouring in from those who knew and worked with Head, including Matt Lucas, David Boreanaz, James Marsters, Eliza Dushku, and Brett Goldstein. The Impact of His Passing Head's daughters said: “Our grief is far greater than the hole he has left behind but we know his legacy will live on in the shows he was a part of and in the audiences that love them.” The Future of His Work Head's work will continue to be celebrated by fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ted Lasso, and other shows he appeared in. His legacy as a talented actor and kind soul will live on.

The Mysterious Source of Pfas on Fair Isle Fair Isle, Britain's most remote inhabited island, has been found to have the highest levels of toxic Pfas in drinking water in Scotland. The island, known for its knitting and rare birds, has no obvious industrial sources of these 'forever chemicals', but scientists believe that seafoam and seaspray may be the culprit. The Science Behind Pfas in Seaspray Pfas are highly surface-active, meaning they are attracted to the interface between water and air. This property allows them to be harvested by bubbles in seawater, which can then travel hundreds of kilometers in days, carrying the chemicals with them. As a result, remote coastal areas like Fair Isle may be accumulating Pfas from distant sources. The Impact on Fair Isle and Beyond The discovery of high Pfas levels in Fair Isle's drinking water has raised concerns among residents and scientists. While Scotland's public drinking water remains below official Pfas thresholds for safe consumption, the data from Fair Isle and other coastal areas represents an alarming indication of the accumulation of these chemicals in the environment. The issue is not unique to Fair Isle, with remote lochs across Scotland and other coastal areas around the world also showing high levels of Pfas. The Future of Pfas Monitoring and Mitigation As the UK's current monitoring system is ill-equipped to record the accumulation of Pfas, there is a need for more effective monitoring and mitigation strategies. Residents of Fair Isle, such as Kathy Coull, are calling for Scottish Water to take action to address the pollution at the island's treatment facility. With Pfas found in remote areas around the world, it is clear that a coordinated effort is needed to address the issue of these 'forever chemicals'.

The Relocation Plan Canada and an embattled marine park have reached a tentative deal on the future of 30 beluga whales, ending a saga that has captivated the public and angered animal rights groups. The federal fisheries ministry announced this week that all of Marineland’s belugas would be shipped to either Spain or one of four locations in the US, ending whale captivity in Canada. The Controversy and Resolution The federal government and Marineland, which effectively closed to visitors in 2024, have battled for months over the future of the whales. At one point, Marineland threatened to euthanize the belugas after Canada’s fisheries minister blocked their sale to China. While permits still have to be finalized, a clear rescue plan has finally taken shape. The New Homes for the Beluga Whales Oceanogràfic València, one of Europe’s largest aquariums, has offered to take some of the whales. A consortium of American aquariums in Georgia, Chicago, San Diego and San Antonio have also agreed to take them – although a spokesperson for the group said there was “no definite timeline” for the rescue, but that it could unfold over “matter of weeks”. The Impact on Animal Welfare Advocacy groups say the move is the “least worst option” for the whales. “For years, these animals have languished in decrepit, deteriorating tanks while Ontario’s animal welfare agency failed to take meaningful action,” Kaitlyn Mitchell, a lawyer at Animal Justice, said in a statement. However, Mitchell expressed concerns that the whales might not be healthy enough to travel, citing previous instances where transferred whales have died. The Future of Whale Conservation Before the whales can be transported, Canadian veterinarians will examine each whale to ensure they are healthy enough to travel. Canada’s federal government only issues export permits if the move is in the best interest of the whale and the government said permits “will be issued closer to the date of transport, pending final animal health checks”.

The Critical Role of the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) The OOI, managed by the US National Science Foundation, is a vast network of seafloor systems, underwater gliders, and moored surface platforms. It feeds data to researchers, policymakers, and mariners worldwide, covering both US coastlines and extending into the North Atlantic and Southern Ocean. It has been instrumental in studying marine heatwaves, harmful algal blooms, and ocean acidification. The Cost of Blindness: 163% Error Increase Research published in Nature Climate Change indicates that removing US observations would lead to a massive increase in error for annual ocean heating rates. Specifically, it would result in a 163% increase in error for these estimates. The study found that losing US data is worse than randomly losing 80% of all ocean data globally, as US-funded platforms plug critical gaps in every ocean basin. Economic and Safety Risks from Dismantling US Monitoring The degradation of forecasts would affect early warning systems for storms, tropical cyclones, and El Niño, sometimes 'dangerously so.' Experts argue this is 'penny-wise, pound foolish.' The US suffered 400 climate and weather disasters exceeding $1bn between 1980 and 2024, with costs reaching $177bn in 2024 alone. Farmers rely on El Niño forecasts for agricultural decisions, and insurance sectors face significant exposure. A Global Race Against the Clock: The EU's Counter-Move While the US moves to descope the OOI, the European Union is boosting its own monitoring with a €92m ($107m) initiative called OceanEye. However, scientists emphasize that international cooperation is essential. Samantha Burgess of the Copernicus Climate Change Service warned that without ocean observations, the world is 'flying blind,' and the loss of US data could compromise the ability to predict and mitigate extreme weather events in the coming years.

The Changing Landscape of Meat Consumption Twenty years ago, the question of whether to eat a steak or a tofu patty was largely seen as a moral dilemma influenced by conditions in factory farms and slaughterhouses. However, the debate has shifted sharply. The pollution from animal agriculture, which makes up 12-20% of planet-heating gas, is now part of public discourse around eating meat. A dramatic rise in rates of obesity and diseases linked to red meat have made health concerns part of individual decisions to eat less of it. The Rise of Plant-Based Alternatives Plant-based alternatives have improved in texture and taste to the point where even meat lovers struggle to tell that they did not come from an animal. In Germany, about one in 10 people are vegan or vegetarian and a further 37% describe themselves as flexitarian. Plant-based alternatives have become so common that a third of the population buy them regularly, a government survey found in November. The Data Analysis: Meat Consumption Trends Despite the growing awareness about the environmental harm of livestock, data from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation suggests the average person eats six times as much chicken and twice as much pork as their grandparents did. Global meat supply has risen fourfold in the last 60 years. Much of the growth has taken place in poor countries where better access to meat has helped counter hunger and malnutrition. The Impact Analysis: Environmental and Health Consequences Livestock are expected to contribute the vast majority of the projected 7.6% rise in global agricultural emissions over the next decade. The use of antibiotics on livestock is also projected to rise by nearly a third in the next 15 years without government intervention, with potentially disastrous consequences for protection from disease. Health research shows that people in rich countries are eating more meat and fewer plants than doctors consider healthy. The Prediction: Future Outlook It is too early to tell whether the backlash signals a reversal or stalling of efforts to shift diets toward plants. The meat industry is working hard to safeguard its dominance, with EU politicians voting to ban meaty names such as steak and bacon for plant-based alternatives. In the US, the 'Make America Healthy Again' campaign has enthusiastically promoted eating more meat, going against medical advice.