Synopsis

Tbilisi, Georgia. Anna is a woman in her thirties and mother to an autistic son. Already working as kitchen assistant in a restaurant, she occasionally also takes on jobs as a cleaner, just to keep her head above water. Her former husband left her because of the child, her parents are dead, and her grandmother is senile. On top of all that, Anna’s little son has to spend his days in a nursing home with no professional care. Eventually, the young mother can no longer bear it all: She decides to act on her longstanding desire to emigrate to the United States. Reluctantly, she faces the fact that she will have to leave her grandmother and son behind. Of course, getting to the distant USA is not easy. To obtain a flight ticket and a fake visa, she needs to acquire money quickly. In her persistent struggle for a better life, she constantly skates on very thin ice. This highly atmospheric debut film, with its stark realism, is filled with emotion. The superb performance of the main actress makes it easy for viewers, especially women, to empathise with the protagonist and her feelings of hope, guilt, despair – and increasing suffocation.

Guests

Nino Sardlishvili

Nino Sardlishvili

First assistant and script supervisor Anna's Life

In Vienna: March 22-26