What are you watching? Readers recommend 'The Eagle Huntress,' 'Young Sheldon'

Monitor TV and movie fans share what they've been watching lately.

The 2016 documentary The Eagle Huntress follows 13-year-old Aisholpan as her father helps her train to become an eagle hunter. The Mongolian scenery is on display, with vast, desolate landscapes, and the film gives an insider’s view of how Aisholpan’s people live. 

It’s an inspiring story!

– Betsy Greene Sander, Oconomowoc, Wis.

CBS’s Young Sheldon is absolutely delightful! I love the innocence of this gifted child. There is no sense of being a brat or know-it-all, and I sincerely hope he will continue to be portrayed in this way. It’s such a relief from shows that focus on children being “smart-alecky.”

Iain Armitage, who plays Sheldon, is a remarkably gifted actor. I have seen him in other roles, and in each one he takes on the character so well that there is no sense of his acting a part. 

I look forward to seeing him in many future roles.

  – Margaret Wylie, Eastampton, N.J.

First I want to say, What a great idea! I contribute several times a year to the books feature “What are you reading?,” and I love to see what books other Monitor readers have enjoyed.

I want to recommend two movies. Paterson is about a bus driver named Paterson (Adam Driver) who is also a poet. The setting is the New Jersey town of Paterson, and the visuals of the city are very interesting. References are also made to the poet William Carlos Williams, who was from Paterson and is an inspiration to the bus driver poet. The film moves along slowly but stays with one after it’s over. [Editor’s note: “Paterson” is rated R for some language.] 

Maudie is a film about Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis. Maud is played by Sally Hawkins, who does a great job of presenting a fascinating character (who is shy and dealing with arthritis). Her husband, a laborer with little interest in art, is portrayed by Ethan Hawke. The setting of the film is in Eastern Canada and works really well in the film. It’s a wonderful film about an artist few probably know about. [Editor’s note: “Maudie” is rated PG-13 for some thematic content and brief sexuality.] – Nick Royal, Santa Cruz, Calif.

There is no better film than The Intouchables, a 2011 French film based on a true story. I like films based on true stories. 

To me, the relationship depicted in the film, between a struggling Algerian immigrant (Omar Sy) and a wealthy European (François Cluzet), is beautiful. Both are the better for it in the end. [Editor’s note: The movie is rated R for language and some drug use.]  

  – Anna Lisa Goldschen, Henderson, Nev.