The best things to do, hear, see or watch in Europe this week

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Wash off the remnants of your Halloween makeup - November is here (although with the US presidential election just around the corner, remain on high alert for monsters.)

While the weather might be getting chillier, the forecast for things to do around Europe is still hotting up.

Exhibition wise, there's everything from a fantastic new showcase of eco-artist Vivian Suter's works at MAAT in Lisbon; the opening of Malta's first national contemporary arts museum with 'Joana Vasconcelos: Transcending the Domestic' show and an opportunity to see four extremely rare works of Ukrainian art at the Louvre-Lens Museum in France.

The hugely popular Tim Burton exhibition also continues at London's Design Museum - and speaking of movie-related things, Sean Baker's Palme d'Or winning Anora is finally out in cinemas - go see it!

Here are this week's recommendations - and whatever you do, keep it brat.

Exhibitions

'Disco' by Vivian Suter at MAAT – Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (Lisbon, Portugal) 

For Swiss-Argentine painter Vivian Suter, nature is everything. It is where she finds creative inspiration, reprieve and meaning as a pioneering eco-artists. In one of her most expansive exhibitions to date, over 500 paintings will be on display at Lisbon’s MAAT - 163 of which are being shown for the very first time. Titled ‘Disco’, the exhibition is named after Suter’s dog, reflecting her method of leaving paintings outdoors to be marked by natural elements, including paw prints.

“Nothing I have ever worked on as an artist would have any meaning without this place, without these trees, without the leaves, without my dogs, who follow me wherever I go,” Suter said in a press release. See it until 17 March 2025. 

‘The Lost Worlds of Ray Harryhausen: Creatures, Martians and Myths’ at Waterside Arts (Manchester, UK)

A model-making wizard and pioneer of stop-motion special effects, Ray Harryhausen was behind some of the 20th century's most popular creature features and fantasy epics, including Jason and the Argonauts, 20 Million Miles to Earth, The Golden Voyage of Sinbad and Clash of the Titans. A free exhibition based in Manchester, UK, is paying tribute to his life and career, exploring Harryhausen's experimental periods and development of groundbreaking new animation techniques. Fans of his work will be pleased with the mixture of familiar objects and rarer, previously un-seen ones. See it until 4 January 2025.

Events

Paris Photo (France)

Now in its 27th edition, Paris Photo has become one of France biggest cultural events. A joyful, inspiring and mesmerising celebration of contemporary photography, it sees some of the city's most renowned art galleries take part to showcase carefully curated exhibitions. In honour of it being the 100th anniversary of Surrealism, filmmaker Jim Jarmusch will make a guest appearance, curating surrealist works for a personal display at the Grand Palais. Another highlight include a series of Lithuanian photography, acquired from the collections of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the Centre Pompidou, and the Lithuanian Photographers Association. On 7-10 November 2024.

'Salon du Chocolat' (Paris, France)

Sweet dreams are made of the Salon du Chocolat, an event that sees over 200 of France's finest pastry chefs and chocolatiers gathered in attendance, along with 250 international confectionary exhibitors. For the sweet-toothed, this really is a dream come true: Chocolate workshops, chocolate talks, chocolate tasting and even chocolate fashion shows (see the above IG video) - do we really need to sell this anymore? Willy Wonka can take his golden ticket back, we're off to Paris instead.

Movies

Anora 

If you see only one film this year (and why would you?!?), make it Sean Baker’s Anora. Winner of the 2024 Palme d'Or and nominated for four Gotham awards, including Best Feature Film, this kaleidoscopic tale of a young sex worker that marries the wealthy son of a Russian oligarch is exhilarating cinema. A twisted take on Pretty Woman, it’s both hilarious and heartbreaking, visually vibrant and tonally intoxicating, adrenalised by Baker’s trademark chaotic character dynamics. The real standout is Mikey Madison in the titular role, playing Anora (or Ani, as she prefers to be called) with multi-layered staunch and visceral vulnerability. Euronews Culture’s David Mouriquand called it a “raucous blast - a kinetic New York City screwball comedy that shares the chaotic energy of the Safdie brothers’ Uncut Gems and disguises a darker heart.” Read his full review here. 

Small Things Like These

This dark, knotty thriller stars Cillian Murphy as Bill Furlong, a father and coal merchant who becomes aware of abuse happening in the local convent, forcing him to confront his community's complicity - and in turn, his own trauma. Based on a novella of the same name by Claire Keeganman, it trembles on a tight-rope of tension, grappling with the heavy themes of guilt, shame and corruption in a nuanced but never melodramatic manner. Strong performances from Murphy and Emily Watson bolster the script further with textured characterisation. Euronews Culture's David Mouriquand called it "an understated and deeply impactful film about one of Ireland’s darkest moments." Read his full review here.

Heretic 

One for the UK-based readers specifically: A24's latest horror is out and it stars Hugh Grant as Mr. Reed, a mischievous missionary-trapper who ensnares two young Mormon women into a deadly puzzle of theological contrarianism, involving mentions of Monopoly and Lana Del Rey lawsuits. It combines two great things right now: Hugh Grant in his rom-com-free era and raucous religious-themed horror's 2024 dominance. Also, who hasn't at some point harboured dreams of trapping doorbell-ringing strangers trying to sell you something, be it religion or broadband? It's engaging fun, with Grant on top form as a playfully sinister bloke with clearly too much time on his hands. Everyone's going to be buying blueberry pie scented candles for Christmas. Mainland Europe will have to wait a few more weeks to get to see it in theatres.

TV

‘The Diplomat’ (Netflix) 

If tense geopolitical thrillers are your thing, look no further than ‘The Diplomat’. Having premiered in 2023, it’s focused on US diplomat and newly appointed ambassador of the UK, Kate Wyler (Keri Russell), who is navigating an international crisis as relationship issues bubble up alongside. We land in season 2 following a Russian attack on London, with Wyler caught in the eye of the UK government storm. A distrustful Prime Minister and injured husband thicken the plot, with the political and personal worlds of Wyler melting into one another in this engaging, sharp - and at times a little soapy, show.  

Music

The Cure: ‘Songs of a Lost World’

Cancel all your plans tonight, close the curtains and cry to the new Cure album. It's been 16 years since we last had an LP release from Robert Smith's band, but the pace of 'Songs of a Lost World' confirms they're still in no rush, content to wallow whimsically in the weary trials of the heart. Across eight tracks, it's an evolved sound that still stings with their trademark gothic rock and post-punk funk; sombre cacophonies give way to goose pimpled soars of yearning. It's Friday, we're in love.

Tyler, the Creator: 'CHROMAKOPIA'

Another sonic highlight is that from 33-year-old rapper Tyler Gregory Okonma, known professionally as Tyler, the Creator. His eighth studio album came as a surprise to fans, after Tyler announced mere months beforehand that he wouldn't be releasing any new music this year. It's perhaps symbolic of what Tyler hoped to achieve with this highly-concept collection, desiring to create an immersive and experimental-led experience devoid of the superficial artifice social media promotion can taint things with. A skittish and unnerving grappling with self, featuring collaborators like Lil Wayne and Childish Gambino, it's a captivating and exhilarating listen - one of the best of 2024.