Best Of: Life in the Mojave Desert / Director of ‘The Uprising’

The Mojave Desert faces significant environmental degradation due to large-scale solar energy development, a conflict explored in Claire Vaye Watkins’ novel *Yellow Pine*. Watkins highlights the tension between the necessity of decarbonization and the preservation of fragile ecosystems and local communities. Meanwhile, director Paul Greengrass examines the historical Peasants' Revolt of 1381 in his film *The Uprising*, drawing parallels between medieval class struggles and contemporary societal inequalities. Greengrass emphasizes the role of ordinary individuals in moments of crisis, reflecting on his earlier work *United 93* to illustrate the capacity for collective courage in the face of tragedy. Additionally, film critic Justin Chang reviews *Filipiniana*, a satirical drama that critiques class disparities and exploitation within a luxury resort setting in Manila, using visual storytelling to underscore the stark realities of labor and wealth inequality.