❗ Trigger/content warning: abortion, depression, domestic violence
Additional screening: 15 September / 19:00 / Zhovten Cinema, Classic hall
The program brings together the stories of women (and about women) from different territorial, social, cultural, and traditional contexts. However, their heroines go through experiences that overcome these contextual boundaries and are characterized by a certain commonality, and, therefore, mutual understanding. This year, the focus of the selection is organically shifted in the direction of female physicality: the plots largely revolve around the theme of the first menstruation, abortion, postpartum depression, as well as already customary issues of self-acceptance and finding one's own subjectivity.
Curated by Maria Vasylieva and Sasha Prokopenko
SO THEY SAY
Director: Natalia Luque
Country: Chile, USA
Duration: 18
In a small Chilean town where abortion is deemed illegal, a fetus is found floating on a lake. A single mother and saleswoman’s values and morals are put to test when she discovers the culprit to be one of her young female clients.
BLUE
Director: Violena Ampudia
Country: Cuba
Duration: 17
Blue is the result of a collaborative process with women who have experienced postpartum depression. The director organizes a cyanotype workshop for these mothers to create their own images that illustrate their condition: from their fears, dreams and experiences through the different shades of blue.
COLD SOUP
Director: Marta Monteiro
Country: Portugal
Duration: 10
A woman victim of domestic violence looks back at the years when she was married, recalling how difficult it was to stay afloat.
MADE OF FLESH
Director: Florence Rochat, Séréna Robin
Country: France
Duration: 15
With a touch of blush and a few drops of lip gloss, Lucie is getting ready to start her training day to become a hostess at a motor show. A lifelong car enthusiast, she has the secret hope of being noticed by the prestigious EBBE brand. However, she is unaware that the training has only one true goal: to make her and the other 15 girls into premium women.
Milka in the Water
Director: Michelle Olivares
Country: Mexico
Duration: 26
During her menarche, blood-fearing Laura seeks refuge on an otherworldly river. While delving into its waters alongside a newfound friend, she discovers the challenges of growing up as a woman.