The future was already in The Matrix. And the past keeps coming back

A new weekly instalment of DECODER, the Il Foglio column edited by Gianluca De Angelis and devoted entirely to pop culture: a veritable guide to navigating this vast world through all its new releases, whilst also inviting readers to delve into the classics by immersing themselves in comics, films, series and games. In short, it’s about constantly finding new entry points that might spark a passion or, why not, introduce you for the first time to a world you may have heard of but never explored in depth. So, once again this week, here are three recommendations, three entry points, three reference points to help guide you through this multiverse of diverse forms of expression.

For comic book enthusiasts, we strongly recommend checking out the manga "Look Back" by Tatsuki Fujimoto. It’s the perfect time to read it, especially with the live-action film directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda due to hit Italian cinemas in November via Lucky Red (which will also bring the director to the next edition of Lucca Comics & Games) It is a poignant tale of creativity, ambition, friendship, loss, and, above all, the question that any creative professional eventually confronts: why continue? The delicate and beautiful work readily explains why it also captivated director Kore-eda.

For the world of film and television, a timeless masterpiece returns to cinemas on 26, 27 and 28 October: "The Matrix", restored in 4K, showing for just three days. One of the most important science fiction films in history, it seemed like pure speculation in 1999, yet today it has taken on new meanings in light of technological evolution and the emerging social issues now at the heart of everyday debate, such as Artificial Intelligence. After all, The Matrix did not simply predict ‘the future’; rather, it intuited that the central question would become that of distinguishing what is real from what we perceive as real, bringing technology into dialogue with philosophy and much more: and seeing it again at the cinema today, restored in 4K, is a cinematic experience not to be missed.

Finally, in the world of gaming, we also see another major comeback of a hugely famous IP with Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, released on 15 October. Castlevania celebrates its fortieth anniversary this year and is one of the series that have defined the action and exploration video game genre, featuring labyrinthine castles, vampires, gothic creatures and cursed families. This new entry retains the essence of Castlevania: exploring, finding new equipment, discovering secret passages, facing gigantic creatures and venturing ever deeper into a beautiful yet hostile Gothic world. Stunning and timeless.

Three features to help you navigate the world of entertainment and pop culture, characterised by artistic and cultural dialogue, icons and gripping storylines. DECODER is here to try and decode the present, including through its new popular myths, piecing together, week after week, feature after feature, a vast map that charts, more than ever before, the infinite nuances and directions of our present. Join us next week for another trio of unmissable titles.