“The stories that kept us going in a year of unrest.”
When we look back on 2022, the most prominent feeling for many of us is uncertainty. Political and military upheaval across the globe, the ever-increasing threat of climate change, unprecedented loss of bodily autonomy for women, and a public health crisis that turned from affecting our most elderly to threatening our young made us look for ways to regain control over our lives. A crucial tool in order to achieve a feeling of safety and make sense of the world in times of chaos: storytelling. Humans throughout history have looked to the creative fields for escapism, entertainment, and inspiration — especially when reality was just too much to bear.
Fortunately, artists across all disciplines once again found ways to provide us with great stories to dig into this year, and the team at passerby was lucky to share a few of our own: we got to speak to French philosopher Elsa Dorlin about what’s wrong with contemporary feminism, introduced our audience to the strength of housekeeper Rose, and shared tips on how to support the women of Iran in our conversation with Iranian-American actor Tala Ashe. We also endeavored to bring you the very best recommendations for critical theory on love, where to drink martinis around the world, and rounded up advice from mothers on some of the big (and small) questions of parenthood. None of these pieces would be possible without you, our audience — your input and continued support mean more than we could ever express. So it’s only fitting that, for the last feature of the year, we hand you the mic once more as we round up what stories across film, literature, music, and tv have kept our passerby community going through a year of ups and downs.
best films of 2022
1. Everything Everywhere All at Once dir. Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan
recommended by mélody thomas, Kristi garced, fiorella valdesolo, Rebecca boorstin, hannah baxter, and clémence polès
This may be the closest we’ve ever come to having a unanimous vote for movie of the year. Produced by the Russo brothers and directed by the Daniels, this absurdist comedy-drama starring a phenomenal Michelle Yeoh (who was cast as the lead in a last minute swap with action veteran Jackie Chan) is escapism at its finest, complete with parallel universes, a middle-aged mom superhero, and Jamie Lee Curtis with hot dogs for fingers. Flying, kaleidoscopic colors and the movie’s wry cultural commentary take care of the rest.
2. Aftersun dir. by Charlotte Wells
recommended by Nada Alic, rebecca Boorstin, and Clio reynolds
Told in retrospect by one of the movie’s two main protagonists, the power of this father-daughter story is set in the small details of their many daily interactions. Set against the backdrop of a fading Turkey resort, the movie reminds us of the fragility of memory, and the difficulties we are all faced with when truly wanting to know another person, no matter how close they may seem.
3. Triangle of Sadness dir. by Ruben Östlung
recommended by Nicole Najafi, Claire Brodka, and Kristi garced
With a stellar international cast, this movie mostly takes place on a luxury yacht turned floating city-state in a critique of global consumer capitalism’s brutal inequality. Starring an influencer couple (one of whom is played by South African actress Charlbi Dean, who tragically passed away at age 32 this summer) sandwiched amidst the uber-rich and the ship’s staff, the movie causes some laugh-out-loud moments and offers a surprising ending.
4. The Worst Person in the World dir. by Joachim Trier
recommended by Kristi garced, Claire Dauge-Roth, and fiorella valdesolo
The third installment in director Joachim Trier’s Oslo trilogy (ten years after the release of number two) chronicles four years in the life of Julie, a young woman who navigates the troubled waters of her love life and struggles to find her career path, leading her to take a realistic look at who she really is. Subverting the tropes of romantic comedy, the movie is delightfully introspective and doesn’t pull punches when it comes to life’s big questions.
5. The Janes dir. by Tia Lessin
recommended by erin allweiss and Allison van Der hoeven
In a year that saw the overturn of Roe v. Wade by the US Supreme Court, looking back at a group of clandestine women in the 70s that fought to provide abortions despite them being outlawed by state legislature is eerily relevant. “It's a reminder of why we must fight the erosion of reproductive health in America” says Erin Allweiss — a fight that will continue well into 2023.
More of our favorite films include:
One Fine Morning dir. by Mia Hansen-Løve (recommended by Lane Florsheim)
Licorice Pizza dir. by Sian Heder (recommended by Lindsay Herr and Fiorella Valdesolo)
Saint Omer dir. Alice Diop, The Balcony Movie dir. Paweł Łoziński and The Batman dir. Matt Reeves (both recommended by Cleménce Polès)
Pearl dir. Ti West (recommended by Eva Berezovsky)
The Wonder dir. Sebastián Lelio (recommended by Sydney Russo)
Three Thousand Years of Longing dir. George Miller (recommended by Laurie Simmons)
Fire Island dir. Andrew Ahn (recommended by Claire Brodka)
Wakanda Forever dir. Ryan Cooler (recommended by Fatima Jones)
Hit the Road dir. Panah Panahi (recommended by Fiorella Valdesolo)
No Bears dir. Jafar Panahi (recommended by Nicole Najafi)
best books of 2022
1. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
recommended by Hannah baxter and kerrilynn pamer
The video-game centric plot may initially scare you off this novel by the best-selling author of The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry. But the book’s immersive plot, gripping story arc, and beautifully written characters will draw in even the least enthusiastic gamers. Hannah reflects: “It's been a long time since I cried while reading a book and this one just gutted me in the absolute best way.”
Read Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow
2. Year of the Tiger by Alice Wong
recommended by Eva Berezovsky and clemence poles
Part of our passerby club Partner gift bag, this book by Disability Visibility Project founder Alice Wong is a true show of force. Expanding on Alice’s journey to find and cultivate community and justice as an Asian-American disabled activist, the memoir is a stunning combination of wit, joy, and rage, drawing together different mediums and commissions by disabled and Asian-American artists from around the globe.
3. The Rupture Tense by Jenny Xie
recommended by Rebekah peppler and Claire Brodka
This all-encompassing collection of poems fills the spaces that are often disregarded between moments of puncture and release. Starting off against the backdrop of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, the texts span time in a way that is palpable even outside their larger historical context. Dealing with familial ties, language, capitalism, and our individual histories, they are fragments worth revisiting over and over again — particularly in a year of widespread political upheaval.
Read The Rupture Tense
3. Soul Culture by Remica Bingham-Risher
recommended by mélody thomas
This collection is a remarkable ode to Black poets and poetry. Bingham-Risher examines the writing process through artists like Lucille Clifton to Beyonce with a lens of joy, power, love, and legacy. A mix of personal essays and interviews conducted over 10 years, Bingham-Risher moves Black artistry out of its common pigeonholes and into the context of broader cultural traditions.
Read Soul Culture
4. The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka
recommended by Allison escoto
Not to be confused with the movie of the same name (which is also excellent), Otsuka’s novel centers around a group of adults routinely swimming at a local indoor community pool. When the fate of their pastime is endangered, the narrative closes in on a mother-daughter duo that has more to lose than the rest. A heart-wrenching account of memory, family, and loss.
Read The Swimmers
For the full list of titles, visit our Bookshop. Load up your reading list with the following, too:
Stay True: A Memoir by Hua Hsu (recommended by Fran Miller)
Stories from Tenants Downstairs by Sidik Fofana (recommended by Allison Escoto)
Lost & Found by Kathryn Schulz (recommended by Rebekah Peppler)
Strangers to Ourselves by Rachel Aviv and Animal Joy by Nuar Alsadir (both recommended by Nada Alic)
I’ll Show Myself Out by Jessi Klein (recommended by Fiorella Valdesolo)
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy (recommended by Rebecca Boorstin)
The Mushroom at the End of the World by Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing (recommended by Claire Dauge-Roth)
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors (recommended by Clio Reynolds)
Watching Women & Girls by Danielle Pender (recommended by Cleménce Polès)
In the Margins by Elena Ferrante (recommended by Sydney Russo)
best albums of 2022
1. Un Verano Sin Ti by Bad Bunny
recommended by @maggietish, Claire Brodka, and clemence poles
It was difficult to go anywhere this summer without being serenaded by one of the 23 catchy tracks on Bad Bunny’s latest album. Recorded in his native island of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, Un Verano Sin Ti is a cohesively packaged voyage through the various sounds synonymous with the Caribbean region. But don’t be fooled: behind the extremely danceable lineup is a call to political action, expression, and protest. Or, as Pitchfork puts it, “This album sets the blueprint for what’s next and the message is clear: The Caribbean deserves its flowers and will continue to claim space.”
Listen to Un Verano Sin Ti
2. Surrender by Maggie Rogers
recommended by mélody Thomas and Clio reynolds
The fact that this album shares its title with Maggie Rogers’ Harvard divinity school thesis is an indication of how sizeable the questions are that the artist weaves into her second studio release. This newfound gravitas is reflected in her vocals, too — in a move away from the breathiness of her debut, Rogers deepens her range and fills songs like “Overdrive” with a power that befits their heartbreaking storyline. A fitting evolution for a singer-scholar that has found something transcendent to share with all of us.
Listen to Surrender
3. Motomami by Rosalía
recommended by Cleménce Polès and Eva Berezovsky
A mature Rosalía shows off her confidence with this third album full of range and the mix of genres and styles we’ve come to expect and love from the Spanish superstar. Despite being “a musician’s musician” according to Pitchfork, Rosalías’ signature sound never loses its accessibility and power to move (literally). The record’s topics include lust as much as faith, emotion, and heartbreak — proving once again that this real 21st century popstar can idiosyncratically bridge the gap between seemingly conflicting motivations with a voice that spans at least as many levels.
Listen to Motomami
4. Cool it Down by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
recommended by fiorella valdesolo
In another move away from the sound we may expect, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs use their first album in nine years to reveal a synth-filled yet sentimental dance party that contrasts with their previous folky guitar strums. As Fiorella puts it, “Proof that an album can feel both utterly rooted in the present while at the same time offering a clear thread to the past.” Karen O incorporates her experiences with motherhood into many tracks, a strategy that pays off not just for female audiences. If you’re looking for equal parts lyrical vulnerability and disco-inspired rhythms, this record will deliver manifold.
Listen to Cool it Down
5. Watch the Sun by PJ Morton
recommended by Fatima jones
Fatima explains the allure of PJ Morton’s biggest and most inward-looking album: “He is greatly inspired by Stevie Wonder. If you love good R’n’B, this one’s for you. The single ”Please Don’t Walk Away” literally made me cry from the authentic feelings it invokes.” Recorded in the same rural studio as Wonder’s Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants, the tracks on Watch the Sun ache with vulnerability and beats that will make you sway for days.
Listen to Watch the Sun
Find our favorites from each album rounded up in this playlist, and then keep the music playing with:
Chama Viva by Lô Borges (recommended by Katerina Papanikolopoulos)
Hugo by Loyle Carner and Crash by Charli XCX (both recommended by Rebecca Boorstin)
Star In the Hood by Klein, Paste by Moin, Stumpwork by Dry Cleaning (all recommended by Cleménce Polès)
Tell Me What You Miss The Most by Tasha (recommended by Claire Dauge-Roth)
DECIDE by DJO (recommended by Clio Reynolds)
Dance Fever by Florence + the Machine (recommended by Sydney Russo)
Caprisongs by FKA Twigs (recommended by Eva Berezovsky)
best television of 2022
1. The White Lotus (HBO Max)
recommended by fiorella valdesolo, Kristi garced, Clémence Polès, Eva Berezovsky, Rebecca boorstin, and Clio reynolds
Mike White’s Emmy®-winning series The White Lotus makes this list for the second year in a row — with a fresh season that includes one of the most stellar ensembles in recent tv history (including a once again phenomenal Jennifer Coolidge as Tanya). We find ourselves in the midst of yet another resort, this time in an even more idyllic Sicily setting, and are met with at least the same amount of intrigue, betrayal, and glitz as in season one. And once again, the show’s snappy dialogue, phenomenal character chemistry, and twisted plot line make you wish for an endless amount more. Lucky for us that a third season is on the way!
Available to Stream on HBO Max
2. Borgen — Power & Glory (Netflix)
recommended by erin allweiss, Marina Sulmona, Clémence Polès, and Claire Dauge-Roth
Described by Erin Allweiss as “the democracy we wish we had… and also it's hot, too”, the ridiculously compelling tale of Danish coalition politics and journalistic shenanigans is a psychologically thrilling masterpiece of television. Set against a beautiful Copenhagen cityscape, this is officially season four of the Danish show of the same name, so anyone willing to spend a little extra time in front of their tv or laptop can retroactively catch up on the other three jam-packed iterations.
Available to Stream on Netflix
3. The Sex Lives of College Girls (HBO Max)
recommended by Rebecca boorstin and Marina Sulmona
Mindy Kaling is the mastermind behind this HBO success, which follows the lives of four 18-year-old freshman roommates at a prestigious rural Vermont college. Season 2 builds on the critical acclaim of the first iteration and returns with the same refreshing take on youthful indiscretion. For anyone who loves a good campus setting and a bright, rowdy, fresh script that is delivered by equally endearing characters. And the show’s 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes helps, too.
Available to Stream on Amazon Prime
4. The Bear (Hulu)
recommended by fiorella valdesolo and Fatima jones
No matter your feelings toward’s Hulu’s surprise hit of 2022, nobody can argue the fact that it was one of the most talked-about tv shows of the past year. Fatima Jones describes it as an “innovative and well acted, heart in your throat drama”, while Anna Polonsky explicitly lists The Bear as “NOT” one of her top picks. A visceral whirlwind of flaming pans and quickly hurled insults, the story centers around a James Beard Award-winning chef who returns home to run his recently deceased brother’s failing restaurant. Make sure to catch up on season one ahead of the sequel set to air in 2023 to join in on the discussion.
5. Bad Sisters (Apple TV)
recommended by Kavi Moltz
As Kavi puts it, “Sharon Horgan can do no wrong.” We agree — even if we sideline the magnetic performance of the all-Irish foursome of actresses at the helm of this show, the dark comedy about a group of siblings brought together by the premature death of a brother-in-law is Big Little Lies on steroids. Quick-witted, hilarious, beautifully shot, and a reminder of the strength of sisterhood, it’s one of the most binge-worthy on our list.
Available to Stream on Apple TV
More shows to stream over the long winter nights include:
Under the Banner of Heaven (recommended by Clio Reynolds)
Atlanta (recommended by Clémence Polès)
My Brilliant Friend (recommended by Clémence Polès and Sydney Russo)
Industry, Handmaid’s Tale, and Physical (all recommended by Anna Polonsky)
Couples Therapy (recommended by Fiorella Valdesolo and Kristi Garced)
Derry Girls and Abbott Elementary (recommended by Rebecca Boorstin)
Starstruck (recommended by Claire Dauge-Roth)
Image header from Joachim Trier's The Worst Person in the World
Words by Claire Brodka