Watch In Bloom

In Bloom is a haunting and poignant film that transports viewers to the tumultuous years of post-Soviet Georgia, where the echoes of civil war still reverberate in every corner of the society. Directed by Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross, the movie portrays the coming-of-age story of two best friends, Eka and Natia, who navigate the complexities of adolescence, family, and romance amidst a climate of violence and uncertainty.

The film opens in a desolate suburb of Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia, where Eka (played by Lika Babluani) and Natia (Mariam Bokeria) are finishing their last school day before the summer break. The year is 1992, and Georgia is in the midst of a political and economic crisis, marked by endless power cuts, food shortages, and rampant unemployment. In such a milieu, the teenage girls must confront the harshness of reality with determination and grit, as they try to uphold their ideals, dreams, and loyalties.

Eka is a quiet and introspective girl, the kind who observes more than she speaks. She lives with her mother and her grandmother, who dote on her but are frequently absent, leaving her to fend for herself in a world that feels both familiar and alien. Eka's father is in jail, and she dreams of visiting him, but her mother forbids it, fearing for Eka's safety. As the film progresses, we learn more about Eka's family history, the secrets and wounds that lurk beneath the surface, and the sacrifices that her mother made to protect her.

Natia, on the other hand, is more outgoing and adventurous, a free spirit who enjoys dancing, singing, and joking around. She lives with her parents and her younger sister, who share a cramped apartment with her aunt and her abusive husband. Natia's father is a weak man who often drinks and neglects his responsibilities, while her mother is a strict and conservative woman who tries to shield her daughters from the dangers of the world. Natia dreams of escaping Georgia with her beloved, Kote (Zurab Gogaladze), a charismatic but troubled boy who tries to win her heart with his rebellious attitude and his guitar.

The relationship between Eka and Natia is the heart of the film, a bond of trust, loyalty, and love that transcends the hardships that they face. The girls share everything, from clothes to secrets, and support each other no matter what. They walk to school together, avoiding the gangs of boys who catcall and harass them. They dance to Georgian folk music in their spare time, forgetting for a moment the turmoil that surrounds them. They dream of a better life, where they can study, travel, and be themselves without fear.

However, the realities of their society soon catch up with them. Eka is bullied by a group of girls who taunt her for her clothes and her father's imprisonment. Natia is kidnapped and forced to marry Lado (Data Zakareishvili), a wealthy and abusive man who wants to possess her. Kote is arrested and tortured by the police for his involvement in a petty crime. As their world crumbles, the girls must find a way to survive and resist, to assert their dignity and autonomy in a society that treats them as objects.

The cinematography of the film is stunning, capturing the beauty and the brutality of Georgia with equal finesse. The camera lingers on the decaying buildings, the crowded bazaars, and the lush countryside, revealing the contrasts and contradictions of a country in transition. The colors are muted but vivid, evoking the nostalgia and the melancholy of the past. The music is also an integral part of the film, ranging from classical scores to Georgian folk songs to Western pop hits, reflecting the diversity and the influences of the society.

In Bloom is an exceptional film that deserves wider recognition and appreciation. It portrays a slice of life that is rarely seen on screen, the struggles and the aspirations of young women in a society that is torn by tradition and modernity, patriarchy and feminism, war and peace. The performances of the actors, especially Lika Babluani and Mariam Bokeria, are superb, conveying the nuances and the emotions of their characters with subtlety and authenticity. The direction and the writing are also top-notch, weaving a story that is both universal and particular, touching the hearts and minds of viewers across borders and cultures.

In Bloom is a 2014 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 72.