April (2024) by Dea Kulumbegashvili: A Haunting Portrait of Female Autonomy and Resilience

Movie Summary: A Doctor's Defiance in a Restrictive World

"April" (Georgian: "აპრილი", romanized: "ap'rili") is a 2024 Georgian-Italian-French drama film, 134 minutes in duration, written and directed by Dea Kulumbegashvili. Following her critically acclaimed and award-winning debut Beginning (2020), Kulumbegashvili delivers another formally rigorous and emotionally intense work. The film centers on Nina (Ia Sukhitashvili), a stoic and dedicated obstetrician in a rural Georgian province. Beyond her work at the local hospital, Nina discreetly provides illegal abortions and reproductive care to women in nearby villages, defying societal norms and legal prohibitions in a deeply conservative, patriarchal Christian community. When a newborn dies under her care at the hospital, Nina faces a relentless investigation, jeopardizing her career and exposing her clandestine practices. Amidst the scrutiny, judgment, and the mounting pressures from her community and former lover, Nina must defend her values and her actions, navigating a world that seems determined to crush her independence. The film also features a mysterious, unsettling creature that intermittently appears, adding a layer of abstract surrealism to Nina's psychological torment

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31350080/

Link Review: https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/sep/05/april-review-dea-kulumbegashvili-abortion

About movie: https://goodfellas.film/movie/april/

Link to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/april-2025 (UK), https://www.justwatch.com/fr/film/april-2025 (France), https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0L9J29WUVBLJ3YGUYUM2CTGY2H/ref=dvm_src_ret_ca_xx_s (Canada)

Detailed Summary: The Unseen Burdens of a Woman's Choice

A Meditative and Unflinching Examination of Existence and Womanhood. Dea Kulumbegashvili, renowned for her unique cinematic language and challenging themes, continues to explore the oppression of women and the search for freedom in a rigid society.

• Nina's Austere Life: The film paints a stark picture of Nina's existence in Eastern Georgia, amidst the imposing landscapes of the Greater Caucasus mountains. Her life is one of quiet endurance and unwavering dedication to her patients. She is a woman of few words, her character revealed more through her actions and the relentless pressures she faces.

• Defying Norms: In a society where women are often married young and expected to bear children, Nina's decision to perform illegal abortions for desperate women is an act of profound defiance. It highlights the disparity between official morality and the urgent needs of individuals. This clandestine work puts her at constant risk.

• The Catalyst of Crisis: The death of a newborn under her care at the hospital becomes the flashpoint. This event triggers an investigation that threatens to unravel her life, as rumors of her "other" practices reach the authorities. She faces judgment not only from the medical establishment but also from the deeply conservative village communities she serves.

• Formal Rigor and Sensory Experience: Kulumbegashvili employs a distinctive filmmaking style characterized by long, static takes, unconventional framing (often with a "living" camera that seems to embody Nina's perspective), and an incredibly precise, immersive sound design. There is no traditional musical score; instead, the film relies on heightened natural sounds—labored breathing, ticking clocks, barking dogs, the grinding gears of Nina's car—to create a "nervy intensity" and reflect Nina's internal state.

• The Mysterious Creature: A recurring, faceless humanoid figure with decaying flesh appears throughout the film, moving slowly through dark, oily water. This creature serves as a powerful, ambiguous metaphor. Critics interpret it as a manifestation of Nina's guilt, shame, fear, or a symbol of something beyond human experience—perhaps the physical embodiment of the unsaid traumas and societal pressures she endures. It adds a disturbing, almost mythological layer to the film's realism.

• Themes of Patriarchy and Female Autonomy: The film directly confronts themes of patriarchal oppression, depicting how a woman who defies societal expectations and adheres to her own moral framework is met with suspicion, judgment, and systemic opposition. Nina's stoicism becomes a form of quiet rebellion.

• Blurring Fiction and Nonfiction: Kulumbegashvili is known for blurring these lines. For "April," she interviewed and cast local villagers, used unchanged home interiors as sets, and even incorporated real weather events, grounding the film in a deep sense of authenticity and raw reality.

Plot Summary: The Fallout of a Doctor's Compassion

• Nina, an OB/GYN in rural Georgia, secretly performs abortions for women in nearby villages, defying legal and social norms.

• When a newborn dies under her care at the hospital, she comes under intense investigation.

• Rumors of her illegal practices spread, threatening her career and her personal safety.

• As she navigates the scrutiny and judgment of a patriarchal society, Nina's resilience is tested.

• Her journey is interspersed with the unsettling appearance of a mysterious, grotesque creature, reflecting her inner turmoil.

Director's Vision: Dea Kulumbegashvili's Intimate and Uncompromising Gaze

To Explore the Intersections of Existence, Womanhood, and Societal Pressure. Dea Kulumbegashvili, often described as an uncompromising auteur, meticulously crafts her films to explore profound human experiences:

• "Existence and Womanhood": Kulumbegashvili stated her goal was "to explore and analyse the dichotomy and convergence between existence and womanhood," which naturally led her to themes of birth and death. She sees Nina as an "epic" character, grappling with fundamental questions of life and morality.

• Formalism with Purpose: Her distinct visual style, characterized by long takes and a "breathing" camera, is not merely aesthetic. It's designed to immerse the audience in Nina's experience, creating a sense of palpable intensity and focusing attention on subtle shifts in emotion and atmosphere.

• Beyond Realism: While deeply rooted in realism (even to the point of showing a natural birth, live C-section, and surgical abortion without censorship), Kulumbegashvili allows for the "non-real, or fantasy, or magic" to emerge. This is her way of coping with "unbearable reality" and exploring the deeper, unspoken psychological states of her characters, as exemplified by the creature.

• Sound as Narrative: She works extensively on sound design, collaborating with composers and dialogue editors to create rich, rhythmic soundscapes that act as a "second cast member," conveying emotion and tension.

• Commitment to Truth: Having grown up in Georgia, Kulumbegashvili feels a strong responsibility to depict the realities of her homeland, particularly the pervasive issue of violence and subjugation against women. She stated, "How can I look away?"

• Patience and Empathy: Despite the harshness of the subject matter, she aims to evoke empathy and encourage viewers to confront the complex emotional and moral landscape of Nina's life.

Themes: Female Autonomy & Oppression, Reproductive Rights, Guilt & Trauma, Faith & Morality, and The Supernatural/Subconscious

The Hidden Horrors of Conformity and the Burden of Compassion.

• Female Autonomy vs. Patriarchal Oppression: The central conflict, exploring a woman's struggle to control her own body and choices in a society that seeks to restrict her.

• Reproductive Rights: The film directly addresses the controversial and often dangerous reality of illegal abortions and the moral dilemmas faced by those who provide such care.

• Guilt, Trauma, and the Subconscious: The mysterious creature, heightened sound design, and Nina's stoicism hint at profound internal struggles, unresolved traumas, and the weight of her actions.

• Faith and Morality: The clash between Nina's personal moral code and the conservative religious beliefs of her community, particularly regarding life and death.

• The Supernatural/Uncanny: The fantastical elements blur the lines of reality, providing an abstract representation of Nina's inner world and the unbearable pressures she faces.

Key Success Factors: Auteur's Distinct Voice, Festival Acclaim, and Powerful Performance

• Dea Kulumbegashvili's Vision: Her unique, uncompromising cinematic style and her reputation as an important voice in arthouse cinema make "April" a highly anticipated film.

• International Festival Prowess: Its strong showing at major festivals like Venice (Special Jury Prize) and San Sebastian (Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Award) solidifies its artistic standing.

• Ia Sukhitashvili's Performance: Her collaboration with Kulumbegashvili (also starring in Beginning) is noted for its intensity and ability to convey complex emotions through a largely stoic character.

• Timely and Provocative Subject Matter: The film's exploration of reproductive rights and female oppression resonates globally.

• Strong Co-production: The support from Georgian, Italian, and French companies, including Luca Guadagnino as a producer, indicates significant industry backing.

Awards & Nominations: Major Festival Recognition and Wins

"April" has received significant critical acclaim and numerous awards on the international film festival circuit:

• Venice International Film Festival 2024:

  • Winner: Special Jury Prize

  • Nominated: Golden Lion

• San Sebastián International Film Festival 2024:

  • Winner: Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Award

• Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2024:

  • Winner: Best Film

  • Winner: Best Performance (Ia Sukhitashvili)

  • Winner: Best Screenplay (Dea Kulumbegashvili)

  • Nominated: Best Director, Best Cinematography

• TOKYO FILMeX 2024:

  • Winner: Grand Prize

• Singapore International Film Festival 2024:

  • Winner: Best Screenplay

• Vilnius International Film Festival 2025:

  • Winner: Best Film

• Nominated: European Film Awards (European University Film Award), BFI London Film Festival (Best Film)

• Also selected for Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), New York Film Festival (NYFF), and others.

Critics' Reception: Unflinching, Hypnotic, and Formally Audacious

Critical reception for "April" has been overwhelmingly positive, with reviewers praising Kulumbegashvili's distinctive directorial voice, the film's challenging themes, and Ia Sukhitashvili's compelling performance.

• Rotten Tomatoes: The film holds a "Certified Fresh" rating of 96% based on 24 critic reviews, with an average rating of 7.6/10.

• Metacritic: It has a weighted average score of 85 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "universal acclaim."

• "Brilliant and Severe": Many critics describe the film as "brilliant" and "severe," highlighting its unflinching portrayal of its subject matter and its rigorous formal control. It maintains a sense of "dread" from its opening scene (Sight and Sound, AP News).

• Masterful Direction: Kulumbegashvili's direction is consistently praised for its "exquisitely precise design and choreography of visuals" and her ability to create a "haunting, original visual language." Her use of static, long takes and unconventional framing (including near POVs and scenes where characters are partially obscured) enhances the film's "eerie detachment" and "violent intimacy" (Sight and Sound, TheWrap, Georgia Today).

• Ia Sukhitashvili's "Titanic Performance": Ia Sukhitashvili's portrayal of Nina is widely lauded for its "stark emotional restraint," "nuanced" expressiveness, and ability to convey "inner conflict and bone-chilling loneliness" through subtle gestures and her "yawning eyes" (Sight and Sound, AP News, The Moveable Fest).

• Controversial and Unflinching Content: The film's depiction of a real live birth and a kitchen-table abortion, while filmed with clinical precision and often from a distance, has been noted for its "unflinching" and "transfixing" nature, confronting elements often left off-screen (TheWrap, Sight and Sound).

• Blending Realism and the Uncanny: Like her debut "Beginning," "April" seamlessly blends social realism with elements of the "mystical" or "uncanny." The recurring appearance of a "faceless, grotesque creature" is a prime example, left deliberately vague in its meaning, allowing for diverse interpretations (https://www.google.com/search?q=Mediem.com, MUBI Notebook, The Film Stage). This experimental aspect is seen as pushing the boundaries of European art cinema.

• Themes of Patriarchy and Female Agency: The film delves deeply into the struggles of women in a conservative, patriarchal society where their choices are often restricted. Nina's defiance in providing unsanctioned abortions is central, explored alongside themes of professional duty, personal isolation, and the weight of moral choices (AP News, Sortiraparis.com).

• Sound Design: Lars Ginzel's "layered soundscape" and Matthew Herbert's "eerie score" (often played on instruments made from bones) are singled out for amplifying the film's psychological dissonance and creating an "auditory experience of Nina's pain and alienation" (Georgia Today).

Summary: "April" has garnered near-universal critical acclaim, hailed as a brilliant and audacious work. Critics celebrate Dea Kulumbegashvili's precise and formally rigorous direction, Ia Sukhitashvili's profound and restrained performance, and the film's unflinching exploration of complex themes surrounding female autonomy, societal pressure, and the personal cost of defying patriarchal norms in Georgia. The film's daring blend of social realism with unsettling, unexplained magical elements also marks a significant artistic development for the director.

Reviews: Nina's Secret Life and a Society's Judgement

Reviews describe "April" as an intense, slow-burn drama centered on a dedicated obstetrician whose life unravels under the weight of a secret and societal judgment.

• The Protagonist's Dual Life: The film follows Nina (Ia Sukhitashvili), a skilled and outwardly stoic obstetrician working in the only hospital of a provincial town in eastern Georgia. Her professional life is dedicated to assisting women through childbirth, depicted in unflinching detail, including a real live birth and a C-section. However, Nina also maintains a secret life, traveling to rural villages to perform clandestine, unsanctioned abortions for desperate women, risking her livelihood and freedom.

• The Catalyst: The narrative is set into motion when a newborn dies under Nina's care at the hospital. This tragic event triggers an internal investigation, during which rumors of her "other, secret job" of performing illegal abortions begin to circulate.

• Scrutiny and Persecution: As the investigation intensifies, Nina's professional and personal life are meticulously scrutinized. She faces accusations of negligence and is called a "murderer" by the deceased baby's father. This scrutiny brings to light the deep-seated prejudices and the weight of religiosity and patriarchy in Georgian society, particularly in remote areas, where abortion (though technically legal with restrictions) is still viewed with "biblical shame."

• Isolation and Resilience: Nina is a solitary figure, often shown driving through stark, beautiful landscapes or in isolated, static frames. She says little, conveying her complex inner world through her "yearning eyes" and quiet resilience. She grapples with the injustice and isolation that come with defying societal norms, remarking at one point, "Other than my job, I have nothing to lose."

• Mysterious Elements: Interspersed throughout the film are unsettling, unexplained scenes featuring a faceless, grotesque humanoid figure with decaying flesh. This "ancient thing," possibly a manifestation of Nina's guilt, trauma, or a symbolic representation of the silenced or lost, adds a haunting, abstract layer to the otherwise realistic drama, leaving viewers to ponder its meaning.

• Critique of Patriarchy: The film subtly but powerfully critiques the patriarchal order and the constraints it places on women, especially in matters of reproductive rights and bodily autonomy. Nina's actions are a quiet form of rebellion against a system that denies women choice and often leaves them in desperate situations.

Summary: "April" reviews detail a stark drama about Nina, an obstetrician in rural Georgia, who dedicates her life to helping women, including performing illegal abortions. When a newborn dies under her care, her secret life is exposed, leading to an intense investigation that forces her to confront societal judgment, personal isolation, and the profound moral and professional dilemmas of her choices, all set against a backdrop of a beautiful yet unforgiving landscape and interspersed with unsettling, mysterious imagery.

Why to recommend movie: For a Profound and Viscerally Engaging Arthouse Masterpiece

A Challenging, Essential, and Unforgettable Cinematic Experience.

• For Fans of Auteur Cinema: If you appreciate directors with a strong, distinct artistic vision, Dea Kulumbegashvili is a must-watch.

• For Powerful Female-Led Narratives: Ia Sukhitashvili's performance is captivating as she embodies female resilience and quiet rebellion.

• If You Seek Thought-Provoking Themes: The film delves deep into reproductive rights, patriarchal oppression, and the psychological impact of societal pressures.

• For Unique Visual and Sound Design: The film's formal rigor, long takes, and immersive soundscape create a truly unique sensory experience.

• If You Enjoy Films That Blend Realism with the Uncanny: The mysterious creature adds a fascinating, ambiguous layer to the narrative.

• To Witness Award-Winning Filmmaking: Its accolades from major festivals attest to its artistic significance.

Movie Trend: Feminist Arthouse Cinema & Experiential Filmmaking

The Art of Subverting Expectations with Profound Social Commentary. "April" firmly establishes Dea Kulumbegashvili as a leading voice in feminist arthouse cinema, creating works that are not only aesthetically bold but also deeply critical of patriarchal structures and advocating for female autonomy. It also exemplifies a trend of experiential filmmaking, where the cinematic form (long takes, sound design, ambiguous imagery) is used to immerse the viewer directly into the protagonist's subjective experience and psychological state, rather than simply telling a linear story. This approach often leads to challenging but profoundly rewarding viewing experiences, echoing influences from directors like Michael Haneke or Carlos Reygadas while forging a unique path.

Social Trend: Global Reproductive Rights, Women's Rights in Conservative Societies, and Intergenerational Trauma

The Ongoing Battle for Bodily Autonomy and Dignity. The film deeply resonates with several contemporary social trends:

• Global Reproductive Rights: The film's focus on illegal abortions and a woman's right to choose is highly relevant in a global context where reproductive rights are constantly debated and challenged.

• Women's Rights in Conservative Societies: It sheds light on the specific challenges faced by women in deeply patriarchal and religiously conservative societies, where their choices regarding their bodies and lives are often severely restricted.

• The Burden of Care and Compassion: Nina's character embodies the immense physical and emotional toll on those who provide essential care, especially when operating outside legal or social norms.

• Intergenerational Trauma/Societal Repression: The "creature" and Nina's overall demeanor can be seen as manifestations of the cumulative weight of societal repression and unaddressed trauma, passed down through generations or experienced individually.

• The Power of Individual Resistance: Nina's quiet defiance, despite the personal cost, underscores the enduring human spirit of resistance against oppressive systems.

Final Verdict: "April (2024)" is a Masterful and Essential Work of Contemporary Cinema

Dea Kulumbegashvili's "April (2024)" is a profound, challenging, and utterly compelling work that solidifies her position as one of the most vital voices in contemporary cinema. Through the unflinching gaze on Nina, a rural Georgian obstetrician defying a conservative society to provide reproductive care, Kulumbegashvili crafts a visually stunning and emotionally devastating portrayal of female autonomy under duress. Ia Sukhitashvili delivers a mesmerizing performance as Nina, embodying her stoicism and inner torment. With its bold formal choices, immersive sound design, and the haunting presence of a mysterious creature, "April" is not just a film; it's an experience that compels deep reflection on reproductive rights, societal oppression, and the human cost of compassion. Having earned the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival and numerous other accolades, "April" is a highly recommended and essential watch for anyone seeking intelligent, impactful, and uncompromising arthouse cinema.