Lessons in riding out a heat wave
Summer is in full swing - coping when it's too hot to even think
Anyone else been feeling a tad warm recently? The heatwave may be in a downturn for some of us but this summer is projected to be a scorcher - and there are two more months of it. Given an abnormally long run of glorious sunshine we really can’t complain…except that we can and we do. It’s funny how a few degrees can so quickly shift the vibe from exuberant to murdery - rational, happy dispositions melted down to reveal crazed, feral beasts in sundresses.
Below are some sweaty cult classics that will make you feel seen - the pressure cooker of the summer sun reducing everyone to their most primal behaviour.
Do the Right Thing - Spike Lee, 1989
On the hottest day of the year tensions are running high at Sal’s Pizzeria, an Italian American owned joint in the predominantly black neighbourhood of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. When one of the regulars questions why the “Wall of Fame” doesn’t include any people of colour - the largest contingent of customers - it sparks a flame of contention, hostility continuing to escalate as the temperature rises.
With both gravitas and humor Lee explores racial tension, community and police brutality - issues as starkly relevant today as they were thirty-five years ago. “Do The Right Thing” became a seminal film for its tackling of complex social problems but also because of Lee’s radical stylistic choices - his tilted camera angles and use of vibrant set and costume design went on to have a huge impact on cinema and pop culture at large. Among the stacked cast were then newcomers Samuel L. Jackson, John Turturro and Rosie Perez - her dancing to “Fight the Power” remains one of the best opening credits sequence of all time. And that’s the truth, Ruth.
La Piscine - Jacques Deray, 1969
Marianne and Jean-Paul’s idyllic holiday is abruptly interrupted when her former lover decides to drop in at their villa - his teenage daughter in tow. Languid, lazy days spent poolside are soon unsettled by a pernicious undercurrent of jealousy and suspicion - everything seeming to pulsate with the heat of the sun and pent-up desire. Though the film suffers from a thin plot it is compensated for by the actors’ irrefutable magnetism - the impossibly good-looking Alain Delon and Romy Schneider, with Jane Birkin starring in her first major role. The shimmering backdrop of the Cote d’Azur is almost upstaged by utterly perfect costumes from Courreges - not enough is made of Birkin’s black funereal mini dress - this is your summer moodboard come to life.
A Bigger Splash - Luca Guadagnino, 2015
Making a strong case for remakes is Luca Guadagnino’s 2015 adaptation, “A Bigger Splash” - the characters more fully realised, the harsher, stranger landscape of Pantelleria aptly reflecting the baseness of human nature. That’s not to say it isn’t just as visually appealing - Guadagnino’s signature sensual aesthetic is ever present in the cinematography and styling - again with extremely good clothes, designed here by Raf Simons. It is in my opinion some of Ralph Fiennes and Tilda Swinton’s best work - despite the fact that she is essentially mute throughout.
FYI the droolworthy dammuso used in the film is available to rent - a great setup for a murder mystery party…
La Cienaga - Lucrecia Martel, 2001
Late ‘90s Salta, Argentina - two families decamp for the summer to their decaying country home situated on a pepper plantation away from the city center. Despite the change in location they haven’t managed to escape the oppressive heat - a thick, drunken, haze perpetually hanging over their puzzle of limp bodies as they lie draped across the furniture. A feeling of claustrophobic inertia is amplified by a non-linear narrative - this is about creating atmosphere rather than following conventional plot points.
In portraying the decline of Latin America’s bourgeoisie class Martel drew upon her own memories from growing up in the area, with sound and colour playing vital roles. Here they are characters in their own right - a chorus of chirping crickets accented by gunshots and chairs scraping across the ground, the same lurid red in abundant glasses of wine, red peppers and open wounds. It’s a sensorial experience that will make you feel grateful for your own messed up family dynamics.
Rear Window - Alfred Hitchcock, 1954
One of my top three Hitchcocks is the eminently watchable “Rear Window”, whose story is set in a sweltering New York City. When an accident grounds nomadic news photographer Jeffries - confining him to a wheelchair in his apartment - he channels his focus into obsessively surveying the goings on in the building across the street. (*if you’ve been feeling sorry for yourself the image of Jimmy Stewart trying to scratch an itch with a full leg cast will set you straight.) As the viewer we are trapped with him, moving back and forth between the framed vignettes of other people’s lives - their relationship ups and downs and secret single behaviour. Playing into our voyeuristic tendencies Hitchcock puts us on uncomfortable moral ground, juxtaposing the right to privacy with our innate desire to snoop. That hasn’t stopped watching it several times over…
24 hour pajama party - the best way to keep cool
While attempting to beat the heat may be futile, there are ways in which to at least get along with it - they keyword being “loose”. Taking a queue from Jimmy S, this is the perfect time to lean into the pajama trend. These are some I’ve been eyeing up:
Fan Fare
I long debated where folding fans fell on the line between elegant and pretentious - a number of fashion houses started reintroducing the accessory a few years ago but that didn’t exactly denote a clearcut place in either camp. Eventually deciding they belonged in the former I’ve recently been noticing a number of men and women in alignment - I counted six being waved about on the top deck of a boiling hot bus yesterday. They’re just much more attractive and streamlined than the battery operated alternatives or the makeshift classic - a folded wedding programme/menu card.
A couple of years ago I was gifted an extremely chic one from Duvelleroy - a Parisian fan house dating back to 1827 which has been recently reinvigorated by introducing more contemporary designs. I’d be very into resurrecting their old code of communication, “The Language of the Fan”, instead of relying on my less than subtle facial expressions.
Etsy is chock full of infinitely customizable options - both of the Japanese “sensu” style as well as some beautiful African versions in Ankara, Kentu and Kitenge fabrics.
Ok yes it’s water in a spray bottle - but it’s special water…? I saw a number of people misting themselves and their kids with this particular brand in France last week - it’s got a specific PH level that means it’s good for sensitive skin and doesn’t totally dry you out. While it may be hard to buy into it as a concept it definitely provides some relief and my 50ml bottle has lasted me ages.
Ole Henriksen Cold Plunge Pore Mask
After spending the day with a face coated in sunblock and sweat this refreshing face mask leaves you squeaky clean - I don’t really know what the cooling element is but it feels amazing on. It used to come in this insane turquoise colour - I see they’ve rejigged the formula so it’s now a less radioactive shade - not as fun but also probably less mess.
Non-cooking hacks for when you don’t want to turn on the oven
Benriner Mandolin
I originally purchased this mandolin with stodgy potato dishes in mind but have found that I’ve used it more for raw veg than anything else. The adjustable setting means you can slice to your desired thickness - creating ribbons out of the hardest root vegetables. A simple salad suddenly looks like an elevated dish when you’ve barely done anything.
-Also worth getting a cut resistant glove if you’re nervous about accidently ribboning your finger…
I love a good gazpacho but like many my digestive tract does not love raw onions. Chef Jose Andres raves about his wife’s recipe which he shares in the Immigrant Cookbook: Recipes that make America Great (I also found it online here). It’s super simple and thankfully onionless - I made a batch last year during a particularly hot week and was very happy to eat that for several days on the trot.
I’ll leave you with this Wolfgang Tillmans to come back to - I saw at the Centre Pompidou last week when it was 36 degrees C and even just looking at it returned my frazzled temperament to a place of zen.
Lovely read as alway!
Loved this!