Amara
Fall Grants 2024 - Development Stage
Michelle Keserwany / Feature Narrative / Lebanon, France, Denmark, Qatar / 90 min / Original Language: Arabic, French / Interests: Drama, Satire
Synopsis
“Darine, a vibrant woman in her mid-thirties, works at a small, politicised radio station in Beirut, where she hosts the morning show ‘Horoscopes with Darine’. She leads the programme with expertise, thanks to her talent for crafting sweet little lies. Coming from a middle-class background, she shares a modest apartment with her mother, a devout Christian, and her quirky aunt, who is housebound due to respiratory issues and spends her days reading tarot cards. Darine’s job is the sole source of income for the household. Caught between her family responsibilities, personal life, and daily struggles, Darine cocoons herself in a fictional bubble filled with horoscopes, old Egyptian films, 1990s Arab music, and dating apps.
One day, Darine’s life takes an unexpected turn when the radio station asks her to replace the news anchor, who was fired due to the country’s economic crisis. Having always retreated into a deliberately fictional universe through her horoscopes, Darine suddenly finds herself forced to announce the harsh news of a country on the brink of total collapse, broadcasting a reality she is not ready to face.”
Credits
- Director
- Michelle Keserwany
- Screenwriter
- Michelle Keserwany
- Producer
- Tine Mikkelsen, Nadim Cheikhrouha. Co-producers: Alaa Alasad, Michelle Keserwany, Noel Keserwany
- Production Company
- Zentropa Entertainments3, Tanit Films and Barr
About the Director
Michelle is a multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker from Lebanon. Since 2011, she and her sister Noel have collaborated on satirical political music videos. In 2023, their debut short film, ‘Les Chenilles’, became the first Arabic film to win the Golden Bear for Best Short Film at the Berlinale. The film’s success continued with prizes such as the Golden Star at El Gouna and pre-selection for the César Awards. Michelle is currently working on several projects, including an animated feature film for adults titled ‘Ouzkourini’ and ‘Amara’, her first live-action feature film.
Contacts
-
Main Contact
Tine Mikkelsen
- Company:
- Zentropa Entertainments3
- Phone:
- +45 25 21 65 91
- Email:
- tine.mikkelsen@filmbyen.dk