Friends to foes
As summer heats up, we’re offering you a film recommendation swimming in summer haze: René Clément’s Purple Noon. Loosely based on Patricia Highsmith’s classic novel, The Talented Mr Ripley, the film centres around a young Alain Delon as the titular Tom Ripley, who is hired by a wealthy American to retrieve his playboy son Phillippe Greenleaf (Maurice Ronet), living with his new fiancée, Marge Duval (Marie Laforêt), in Italy. Soon things get a bit weird, and Tom develops an obsession with becoming Phillipe, plotting to kill him and take his identity.

Easily one of the most stylish films ever made, despite Ripley’s murderous tendencies, you can’t help but look at Delon’s chiselled jawline and immaculate hair and say, “Meh, he probably deserved it.”

Purple Noon plays at Prince Charles Cinema on Friday 10th at 15:30.

Mixing leather and pleasure
Speaking of things heating up… strap yourself in (literally) for Maja Borg’s 2021 film Passion. In the wake of a destructive relationship, Borg looks to reclaim her intimacy and boundaries through queer BDSM practices – mixed with some iconography from their Christian heritage. Intensely personal and revealing, the work sees Borg find comfort in the ceremonial, existing in the nexus between spirituality, passion and suffering.

Passion plays at Dalston Rio on Sunday 31st July at 15:45.

Refill your popcorn
Sundance London returns to the city this week with a line-up of fresh indie gems to binge on. The schedule includes Emma Thompson’s unconventional romcom romp, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Jim Archer’s incredible tale of a man and who builds a cabbage-eating robot, Chloe Okuno’s voyeur horror, Watcher, and Lena Dunham’s latest film Sharp Stick, exploring a young woman’s sexual awakening following a teenage hysterectomy.

Explore the full Sundance London line-up here.

Cock carvings
This weekend sees the opening of Tim Noble’s first solo exhibition. As one half of the acclaimed Tim Noble and Sue Webster duo, the artist has become a mainstay of the British art world, pushing at our inhibitions and taboos until we grin (or grimace) with delight. Titled Imaginary Beings, the exhibition takes place at the Darren Flook gallery and consists of a series of relief panels populated by depictions of birth and reproduction. Women ride cock horses as slugs and wasps “devour the sweet juices of a placenta” – as reads one of Noble’s Instagram posts.

Tim Noble: Imaginary Beings runs until 16th July at Darren Flook gallery, 106 Great Portland Street.

A festival with zero chance of rain
It’s Meltdown time, and Grace Jones is in charge. Having had to wait two years due to you-know-what, the time has finally arrived, and we’re ready. Taking over the Southbank Centre, the legendary musician has curated a line-up of renowned international talent, including Sky Ferreira, Honey Dijon, Peaches, Dry Cleaning, Skinny Pelembe and John Grant. There’s plenty to dig your teeth into here – get stuck in.

Grace Jones’ Meltdown takes place 10th – 19th June, see the full line-up here.

Bury me in tacos
We all know that good Mexican eateries are few and far between in London (sort it out!), but Mezcalito is one of the gems keeping our taco tray full. Now, the popular Chelsea venue is moving across town to Newington Green, opening a new location that brings a bit of salsa to North London. Boasting the same tasty menu as the original Mezcalito, there are Mexican bao buns filled with chicken tinga or pulled pork carnita, braised beef tacos and melty quesadillas stuffed with king prawn and guajillo chilli sauce. Do it properly and get a mezcal-based cocktail to experience that full Mexican experience [chef’s kiss].

Mezcalito is located at 63 Newington Green Rd, N1 4QU.