Despite the German Expressionist influence on the genre, the roots of film noir are undoubtedly American — a morally introspective and nationally cynical mirror to the traditional western. As a whole, it’s a movement born out of an era defined by the Great Depression and the horror of World War 2: what felt like an insurmountable period of turmoil and moral rot began seeping into the celluloid unconsciously. However, just because film noir was given form by Hollywood directors, doesn’t mean the movement stayed in America.

On the contrary, it expanded out across the globe, giving audiences classic noirs from Great Britain, France, and even Japan, a nation reeling from its own unique role during World War 2. Just like Hollywood, Japan was reckoning with its national contradictions on-screen, and one classic noir, High and Low, by the great Akira Kurosawa, is perhaps the best window into the psychological, social, and economic conditions of the nation at that time.

Read the full appreciation of High and Low here or click below to buy the Criterion Collection.

Is it the golden age for gaming chairs? Once you’ve sat down in a modern one, it’s hard to argue there’s never been a better time for sitting.

To be fair, gamers have always been at the cutting edge of seats and office chairs seem destined to be a step behind. Sure, your average desk chair has come a long way when it comes to ergonomics and adjustments. But next to top of the line gaming chairs, it’s like pitting a Hyundai Accord — a perfectly reliable, even great car — next to a Mercedes-Benz G-Class. If you want the luxury, you want the luxury.

Take the Secretlab TITAN Evo, a gaming chair three Inverse editors call their own — and are likely sitting in at this very moment. There is a bunch of ergonomic tech that you might expect with these chairs: Cold-cure foam, a propietary soft and breathable fabric, a 4-way adjustable lumbar system (for the back/spine), a magnetic foam head pillow that is infinitely adjustable, interchangable swiveling armrests, and three sizes for the right fit. The beauty is the smart design encourages movement — easily switching from upright with a forward lean (for, say, typing) to crossed legged contemplation (for reading), fully-lounged (for a movie), or relaxed upright, which we found best for gaming. To say it saves your back from pain is true, but undersells the whole thing.

Of course, the most fun part of the Secretlab chairs, specifically, is that they offer so many branded versions. There’s a wide array of Demon Slayer characters, for example (like our favorite, Nezuko, pictured), next to Warhammer, Overwatch, League of Legends, and Final Fantasy characters. The list goes on and on. Whatever your choice, the design tends to be artful and subtle, the kind of design that looks subtly handsome for the long haul, even if you’re not a superfan of the character.

If it has been a while since you’ve upgraded your home office, gaming, or lounging chair, it is high time to do so. The golden age of gaming chairs is here — why not settle into it?