Aresco's

Aresco's is a short documentary that follows the night shift at a Connecticut bodega. The film chronicles the humorous and touching interactions between customers and the shopkeeper, Saifullah "Ali" Khan.

  • Aaron Kelly-Penso
    Director
  • Ali Khan
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    observational, documentary, underground, experimental, verite, direct cinema
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 12 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 14, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Outer Docs Film Festival
    Ithaca
    United States
    November 10, 2019
    World Premiere
    Short Documentary Runner Up
  • Kansas City Underground Film Festival
    Kansas City
    United States
    September 24, 2022
    Missouri Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Toronto Arthouse Film Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    October 19, 2022
    Canadian Premiere
    Offical Selection
Director - Aaron Kelly-Penso
Director Statement

My intention going into "Aresco's" was to focus on the shopkeeper Ali, using his work at the bodega as a launching point for a film about his life and experience in America. As filming progressed, however, my attention was continually drawn to the interactions between Ali and the customers, and it quickly became clear that there was something worthy of note in these moments. The bodega became the axis around which the film revolved, with Ali acting as a conduit for action rather than the sole focus of the film.