My Favourite Fabric (2018)

Manal Issa is(s) a revelation. She is the reason my interest was sustained till the very end- she became almost like a comfort character to me, even though this was my first time watching the movie. 

Had the entire movie been like the first half, I would have loved it. It would have automatically become one of my favourite movies of all time. The vibes in the first half were pitch perfect, character and story development was excellently done to lure the viewer in, and the cinematography got more immersive with each frame. I loved seeing the world through Nahla's (Manal Issa) eyes, and like her, I too became fascinated by the new neighbour upstairs, Ms. Jiji (Ula Tabari). Also, the director and this woman have the same last name, is that supposed to mean something? Must find out. 

Coming back to the movie though, it's so well shot that I felt physically uncomfortable when Nahla did (which she did a lot); and during that shot where she lies naked on her bed, I was immediately transported to the countless times I too have lain like that. It's moments like this one that made me so invested in Nahla, and that's why the second half of the movie was a bit of a let-down for me. It wasn't bad on its own, but it just didn't live up to how mind-blowing the first half was. I don't know, maybe it's a me thing. I do appreciate how they tried to show Nahla's journey in the bigger backdrop of the Syrian civil war- it was quite something to watch, considering that I have never experienced anything like that. Maybe that's why the movie lost me a little there, because that's the end of my comprehension. But it did make me feel all the anxiety of an impending war, probably because I know what happened after that. Mostly though, all I felt was a strange emptiness, trying to imagine the futures of Nahla, her family and her friends. 

In conclusion, My Favourite Fabric is a compelling act of storytelling, one that is going to stay with me for a long time. Do not miss it, if you get the opportunity to watch it. 

PS- the final scene is one of my favourite final scenes of all time.

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