April
15
Nina is the best obstetrician in her area, but after a new-born dies during a difficult birth, suspicion for negligence is directed at her. Stoically unshakeable in her beliefs, her standing in the small town is further jeopardised by the community’s knowledge that she also provides illegal abortion services to local women.
Produced by Luca Guadagnino, the film balances extremely visceral birth scenes with atmospheric and stunningly shot images of the Georgian countryside. Whilst longer meditative scenes of realism give way to sometimes nightmarish and surreal imagery April remains a complex and disquieting depiction of social and religious politics of birth, abortion rights and the status of women in contemporary Georgia.
Details
“Lovers of that elusive quasi-genre “slow cinema” might detect affinities with directors such as Béla Tarr, Carlos Reygadas or the late Chantal Akerman. But Kulumbegashvili is very much exploring her own path here, fearlessly so.”
Jonathan Romney, Financial Times
“Confirms Dea Kulumbegashvili as one of the world’s most visceral filmmakers”
David Ehrlich, IndieWire
“A deeply unsettling meditation on sexuality and transgression.”
Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
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