Beyoncé’s tour film and a podcast interviewing Irish refugees – the best in entertainment this week

Monday, November 27

Belfast, Netflix

Written and directed by Academy Award nominee Kenneth Branagh, Belfast is a poignant story of love, laughter and loss in one boy’s childhood, amid the music and social tumult of the late 1960s. Starring Caitriona Balfe, Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan, Ciaran Hinds, and Jude Hill.

Tuesday, November 28

Small World, wherever you get your podcasts

A new podcast from The Useless Project and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, each episode of Small World features a different host – including Joanne McNally, Brendan Courtney, Louise McSharry and Killian Sunderman – who chats with an individual from a refugee background living in Ireland. At a time when global conversations are more crucial than ever, this eight-episode series aims to promote empathy, understanding, and solidarity with refugees in Ireland while highlighting the nation’s welcoming spirit and rallying support ahead of the Global Refugee Forum 2023. Extremely pertinent given the events in Dublin last week.

Wednesday, November 29

The Murder of Lyn Dawson: The Teacher, The Groomer, The Killer, Sky Crime

Lynette and Chris Dawson’s life was picture perfect. He was a teacher and footballer; she was a devoted mother and wife. But soon after a teenage babysitter moved in, Lynette disappeared. Did she walk out or did something sinister happen? The case that inspired the popular Teacher’s Pet podcast, this will have you hooked from the get-go.

Thursday, November 30

Slow Horses Season 3, Apple TV+

Slow Horses is a darkly funny espionage drama that follows a team of British intelligence agents who serve in a dumping ground department of MI5 due to their career-ending mistakes. In season three, a romantic liaison in Istanbul threatens to expose a buried MI5 secret in London. When Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman) and his team of misfits are dragged into the fight, they find themselves caught in a conspiracy that threatens the future not just of Slough House, but of MI5 itself.

Friday, December 1

Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé, in cinemas nationwide

Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé accentuates the journey of the singer’s international Renaissance world tour – from its inception to its first night opening in Stockholm and the finale in Kansas City, Missouri. A testament to Beyoncé’s intention, hard work and involvement in every aspect of the production, this film is about her creative mind and purpose to create her legacy and master her craft.

Saturday, December 2

Candy Cane Lane, Prime Video

Eddie Murphy stars in this festive comedy adventure about a man on a mission to win his neighbourhood’s annual Christmas home decoration contest. After Chris (Eddie Murphy) inadvertently makes a deal with a mischievous elf named Pepper (Jillian Bell) to better his chances of winning, she casts a magic spell that brings the 12 Days of Christmas to life and wreaks havoc on the whole town. At the risk of ruining the holidays for his family, Chris, his wife Carol (Tracee Ellis Ross), and their three children must race against the clock to break Pepper’s spell, battle deviously magical characters and save Christmas for everyone.

Sunday, December 3

The Naughty Nine, Disney+

Fifth grader Andy has been a bit of a troublemaker this year. When Christmas morning rolls around and Andy gets stiffed by Santa, he realises he’s on the Naughty List. Feeling unfairly maligned, Andy pulls together a crack team of fellow naughty listers to pull off an elaborate heist in the North Pole to get the presents that Andy and the others feel they deserve. In the process of finding their gifts, the gang discovers that the spirit of Christmas is more about giving than taking, and decide to face Santa and do the right thing.

Feature image via @lighthousecinema