A delicate subject, filmed in a raw and lucid way. Nina is an obstetrician who is being accused of negligence. Nina is also the only possible help patients have in this rural community in Georgia where abortion is illegal. A cry for women’s bodily autonomy and the weight of fighting against institutions that don’t grant this freedom. The film won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival.
After Beginning, the first film by Georgian filmmaker Dea Kulumbegashvili, which won a historic victory at San Sebastián (Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Actress), expectations were high, and Kulumbegashvili amazes again: with her second feature, April, she won the Special Jury Prize at Venice.
The film’s title anticipates its inexorable symbolism: April is the month of renewal, but also the cruellest month. Through a unique and meticulous cinematic language, Kulumbegashvili captures the rural beauty of Georgia, the blossoming of trees, and the changing of the seasons, all indices of a OB-GYN’s, Nina, journey of self-discovery. The director immerses the audience in the emotional state of her protagonist, creating a claustrophobic and immersive atmosphere where the constant tension in the life of a woman who refuses to be silenced by a patriarchal society is palpable.
Dea Kulumbegashvili’s latest cinematic work challenges conventions and offers a profound reflection on abortion and the ramifications of that decision, putting the self-determination of women’s bodies at the forefront—an ongoing and urgent struggle.
Produced by Luca Guadagnino, April is a truly captivating film that leaves an indelible mark and invites the viewer to rethink women’s autonomy and their right to control their own bodies and destinies.
This film features scenes that could shock the sensitivity of some viewers.
(Alexandra Ferraz)
