Grandma
Mahmoud Kaabour's short documentary about his grandmother is both sharp and loving and it reveals certain universal truths.
Teta Fatima is the matriarch of the family but she now lives alone in an old apartment with just her caregiver. She misses the days of children and music and hustle and bustle. She has a great sense of humour and loves to smoke her Arguileh - also known as a hookah pipe.
The film is candid and funny and non-linear. It also contains a very neat animated opening sequence and probably the best, most inventive use of photographs in a family documentary. Hooray for figuring out something new and visually arresting to do.
Screenings are on Oct 8th 4:30pm at Pacific Cinematheque, Oct 11th 4:20pm at Granville 7, Oct 13th at 6pm at Granville 7. Here is the trailer.