It’s like a debt owed to my younger self

Yesterday was a particularly special day for me as I had the opportunity to give a presentation about my Fulbright experience to students from my university. Sharing how I received the scholarship and embarked on my journey to study screenwriting in the U.S. is something I truly cherish. San Francisco immediately captured my heart, and over the span of two years, I delighted in the experience, engaging with classmates and individuals from diverse backgrounds around the globe.

However, there was a deeper significance to giving that presentation yesterday; it felt like a debt owed to my younger self.

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King of Comedy

I hadn’t planned on celebrating Martin Scorsese’s acceptance of the Honorary Golden Bear from the Berlin International Film Festival by watching his 1982 movie, The King of Comedy, but it was leaving MUBI soon, so here we are. 😊 In a way, it seemed fitting because the film holds a special place in Scorsese’s career. Despite being the opening film at the Cannes Film Festival in 1983, it was largely overlooked at the box office, earning the unfortunate title of “flop of the year” from Entertainment Tonight. It serves as a reminder that honorary awards aren’t solely reserved for those who experience constant success, but rather for those who endure the ups and downs and persist in their craft. It’s a badge of resilience more than anything else.

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Past Lives

Do you ever wonder about meeting the right person at the wrong time? Or do you think that if they were truly the right ones, timing wouldn’t really matter, and you would find a way to be together no matter what? Do you think most of our connections with people happen by chance? And could that feeling of familiarity when our eyes meet really mean we know them from our past lives, just like it’s believed in Buddhism? Should we just feel lucky that our paths crossed in this life time with someone special, even if it’s just once? The 2023 movie “Past Lives” explores these questions in an elegant, tender, and yet powerful way.

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Leila’s Brothers

Picture yourself as the smartest and most courageous member of your family. You see a way out of the corner you’re all stuck in. But sadly, just because you’re a woman, your voice doesn’t count. That’s the tragedy of Leila. But as the title suggests, it’s not only Leila’s story; it’s also about her brothers.

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Good Luck to You, Leo Grande

Still on my quest for movies featuring older women as protagonists, I stumbled upon “Good Luck to You, Leo Grande” after thoroughly enjoying “The Lady in the Van”. Let me tell you, it’s a genuine and touching film (pun not intended).

This British comedy-drama premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2022. It follows a middle-aged woman who decides to hire a young sex worker to experience pleasure for the first time in her life. It’s a hot topic, for sure. 🙂

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Arab Blues

Manele Labidi has been busy putting the final touches on her upcoming second feature film, ‘Queen Mom’ lately, but I recently had the chance to catch her debut, ‘Arab Blues.’ I enjoyed its light tone and how the nostalgic Italian songs created that breezy Mediterranean vibe.

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The Boss & Nothing

Just have to share my latest obsession – Mariano Cohn and Gaston Duprat’s series, ‘El Encargado’ (The Boss) and ‘Nada’ (Nothing). Apparently, this Argentine filmmaker duo has a knack for creating characters that you shouldn’t really like but somehow end up totally loving. In both of the shows, I think the tone, comedic timing and dialogues are just brilliant. Also, I can’t help but feel the filmmakers’ confidence in their storytelling. They don’t rush things or overload the plot. It’s really refreshing and inspiring to see.

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