Before directing Margot Robbie in the Hollywood film Birds of Prey, Cathy Yan made her debut feature, Dead Pigs, which used the real-life discovery of 16,000 pig corpses in China’s Huangpu River to examine the country’s approach to progress and modernization, and provide an acute commentary on class. Told through a series of interwoven stories, the film is beautifully shot, cleverly structured, and scattered with witty rebukes. One particular pronouncement, “There are no ugly women. Only lazy ones!”—made by Candy, an unsentimental beauty-salon owner—quickly becomes more than just a goading message, embodying instead China’s obsession with success. (mubi.com) —Bridget Arsenault

If the subway remains daunting, despite the world’s returning to somewhat normal, now may be the time to change up your commute. This electric bike hails from the Netherlands, the European capital of cycling, and is expertly designed, with nine speeds and a battery that will last for 55 miles on one charge. Perfect for urban travelers, it’s also priced for entry-level riders, making it a budget-friendly alternative to some of the slicker e-bikes on the market. ($2,499; propelbikes.com) —Alex Oliveira

The comedian Naomi Ekperigin has been a Lifetime fan since middle school. The thrillers are her favorites. It’s “gorgeous people in harrowing situations,” she says. “You don’t know if they have jobs, but you know they’ve got beautiful marble countertops.” So when the network asked her to do a podcast recapping their movies (she was already established in podcasting through her relationship-comedy series, Couples Therapy, which she hosts with her partner, Andy Beckerman), she jumped at the chance. To join her, Ekperigin turned to fellow comedian Megan Gailey. “Ninety percent of Lifetime movies feature white women in peril,” says Ekperigin. “I wouldn’t be doing my due diligence if I didn’t have a white woman in peril with me on the pod!” The first episode covers an exemplar film in this tradition: Sleepwalking in Suburbia, a 2017 psychodrama about a woman who has a rare condition called “sexsomnia.” It’s easy to find the humor in Lifetime’s insane plots, but these hosts, who pull no punches, draw out the films’ many absurd glories with next-level comedy.(podcasts.apple.com) —Clementine Ford

The Italian purveyor of 50s-esque appliances makes a perfect toaster. This swingy new model offers style along with six levels of browning, to up both your breakfast and décor games. Extra-wide slots ensure that it’s easy to make toast for two, while a removable stainless-steel crumb tray keeps everything tidy. ($170, williamssonoma.com) —Ashley Baker