Gandzani, a Georgian village close to the Armenian border. Friends since childhood, three young men from this largely Armenian community are gradually beginning to take different life paths: Henrikh is about to start studying in the capital. He’s worried about the Georgian government’s close ties to Russia, but he’s willing to take serious risks for his political ideals. Karlen, on the other hand, is dissatisfied with life as a shepherd, longs for the ideals of the Soviet Union and plans to go to Moscow as an immigrant worker. And Hakob has to rethink his role in the community when his long-distance relationship starts to crumble. In this airy, sensuous coming-of-age meditation, Marlene Edoyan creates a fitting space to show the period of upheaval between the spirit of the new, resignation and melancholy.

Felix Mende