Directed by Dea Kulumbegashvili, drama, 125 min, eng subtitles, 16+
Written by Rati Oneli, Dea Kulumbegashvili
With Ia Sukhitashvili, Rati Oneli, Kakha Kintsurashvili, Saba Gogichaishvili
In a sleepy Georgian provincial town, a Jehovah's Witness community is attacked by an extremist group. Nobody dies during the attack. While the community leader, David, is committed to rebuilding the demolished prayer house and the police are carrying out their investigation, the familiar world of David’s wife, Yana, begins to crumble. Yana's inner discontent grows as she struggles to make sense of her identity and her desires.
Told in meticulously arranged static frames, this is a film of austere formalism, riveting tension and serene, yet unsettling, beauty. In contemplating a despondent woman's emotional isolation within a religious community, the Georgian director, Dea Kulumbegashvili, has created a powerful and extraordinarily compelling debut.
The film was Georgia’s Oscar entry and it scooped awards at numerous festivals, including San Sebastian and Trieste.
Awards:
San Sebastian IFF 2020 (Golden Seashell for Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress)
Toronto IFF 2020 (Fipresci Prize)
Trieste IFF 2021 (Best Film)
Singapore IFF 2020 (Best Director)
Adelaide IFF 2020 (Best Feature)