Les chenilles

Asma and Sarah meet while working as waitresses in France. They both come from the Levant and are carrying the shadows of the past with them, each in their own way. They tentatively befriend each other and find a common ground that goes back to the time when the city of Lyon was connected to their homeland via the Silk Road. A film about exploitation – then and now – and about female solidarity, friendship and solace.
by Michelle Keserwany, Noel Keserwany
with Masa Zaher, Noel Keserwany
France 2022 Arabic, French 30’ Colour

With

  • Masa Zaher (Asma)
  • Noel Keserwany (Sarah)

Crew

Directors Michelle Keserwany, Noel Keserwany
Screenplay Michelle Keserwany
Cinematography Karim Ghorayeb
Editing Konstantin Bock
Music Zeid Hamdan, Lynn Adib
Sound Design Cedric Kayem
Sound Ugo Donias, Angele Keserwany
Make-Up Mathilde Schneider
Assistant Director Julien Grohar
Producer Marine Vaillant
Co-Production La Biennale de Lyon Lyon

World sales

Dewberries Films

Produced by

Dewberries Films

Michelle Keserwany

The Lebanese musician, writer and filmmaker co-wrote the screenplay for Capernaum (2018) with the director Nadine Labaki and since then has been developing her own film projects. In 2019, she received a residency scholarship for the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris and she has been living between Beirut and Paris ever since. She wrote the screenplay for Les chenilles, her debut short film which she co-directed with her sister Noel Keserwany.

Filmography

2022 Les chenilles; short film, co-director: Noel Keserwany

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2023

Noel Keserwany

The Lebanese musician, writer and filmmaker works closely with her sister Michelle Keserwany. In 2021, she received a residency fellowship for the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris and, since then, she has lived between Paris and Beirut. In Les chenilles, her debut short film which she co-directed with her sister, she also played the main role.

Filmography

2022 Les chenilles; short film, co-director: Michelle Keserwany

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2023