A Film List by Michelle Keserwany
Michelle Keserwany joined us on Kawalis (formerly our Movie Night podcast) to talk about her and her sister’s award-winning short-film Les Chenilles. It was a captivating conversation about the legacy of the Lebanese silk industry, making it in film, and transforming an idea into a compelling and poignant story.
We always ask our Kawalis guests for film recommendations: films that have stuck with them for one reason or another, be it nostalgia, fascination or admiration. These are the films that Michelle picked out.
Favorite Childhood Films
Captain Majed & The Jungle Book
Michelle recalls watching several series dubbed into Arabic as a child, including The Jungle Book, Captain Majed, and Pokemon. The Jungle Book in particular stuck with her because of its songs and strong values of bravery and friendship.
Most Underrated Film
Tekkonkinkreet (2006)
Most underrated to Michelle because of its complex narrative and its exploration of the balance between innocence and corruption as well as brotherhood. The film follows two boys as they try and defend Treasure Town against the Yakuza who are trying to take it over for a new development. Treasure Town was once a prosperous town but is now a dilapidated slum that becomes a battleground between Yakuza criminal gangs.
Film That All Film Students Must Watch
Michelle spoke about the importance of watching old and contemporary films from Lebanon and the region more widely: understanding and delving into the works of filmmakers such as Mai Masri and Borhane Alaouié who are or were inspired by contexts closer to home.
The Film That Always Makes You Laugh
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988)
Almodóvar’s iconic film is her choice for its timeless and complex characters, nuanced humor and smart satire. It follows a television actress as she encounters numerous eccentric characters after trying to find out why her lover left her abruptly.
Film You Can Watch on Repeat
In The Mood For Love (2000)
The intimate mood, music, visuals and the relatable nature of the story are some of the reasons that Michelle loves this film. Directed by Kar-Wai Wong, it follows two neighbors who develop a strong bond after they both suspected their spouses of extramarital activities. They agree to keep their own bond strictly platonic so as not to commit the same wrongs as their spouses.
Best Script
Crimson Gold (2003) & Drive My Car (2021)
Crimson Gold is an Iranian film that stuck with her because it follows the everyday lives of marginalized people with a sensitive approach, and manages to build-up a reasoning behind why people under pressure are forced into committing bad deeds. Directed by Jafar Panahi, the film follows an Iranian pizza delivery man who sees the worst of corruption and social imbalance in his city and is driven to crime. She also chose Drive My Car for its poetry, its depiction of everyday life and people’s simplicity. Michelle thinks that it’s also one of the most beautifully shot films. The film is based on Haruki Murakami’s novel of the same name, and tracks a stage actor and director as he deals with a big personal loss while also receiving an offer to direct a production of Uncle Vanya in Hiroshima.
Most Beautifully Shot Film
A Separation (2011)
Michelle describing this film as “aesthetically marvellous,” for its ability to capture simple reality. Directed by Asghar Farhadi the film follows a married couple confronting a difficult decision: whether they should stay in Iran to care for a parent who has Alzheimers or leave in pursuit of a better life for their child.
Film That Changed How you Think
Close-Up (1990)
Close-Up was fascinating because it so effectively blurs the line between reality and fiction. It was partly filmed as a documentary yet constructed as a film. It is the true story of Hossain Sabzian, a cinephile who impersonated director Mohsen Makhmalbaf to convince a family they would star in his so-called new film.
