Synopsis

As old and frail as he is, Shamil can no longer afford to take care of the huge pomegranate garden surrounding his estate in Azerbaijan. His daughter-in-law Sara and grandson Jalal are of little help when it comes to taking care of the old trees, and they seem to have to give up the last of their sources of income. Just as the summer days seemed to drag on sluggishly, the unexpected occurs: Shamil’s son Gabil unexpectedly returns to the village after having gone missing twelve years ago. But his disappearance left scars that his father, wife and little son cannot simply erase from one day to another. Alongside the unfolding family drama, little by little light is shed on the reasons surrounding Gabil’s sudden disappearance. Which is just as well, as it is fully in line with the cameras calm rhythm, capturing Azerbaijan’s picturesque countryside. But it is only a matter of time before the events of the past resurface. Ilgar Najaf’s piece, inspired by Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, won “Best Film” at Malatya International Film Festival in Turkey.