Films

Official Oscar© Selection—Slovakia

Under control of the communist Soviet state, a Rusyn village faces forced displacement as construction of the Starina reservoir threatens their land and way of life. Set in the 1980s, fifteen-year-old Mara dreams of becoming a pilot in an evolving urban landscape, clashing with her father’s desires for her to remain working the family land. The threat of eviction intensifies the generational differences between Mara and her father.  

In his directorial feature debut, Martin Gonda’s organic depiction of forced resettling is achieved through a tight script and touching performances from the cast. This film exhibits the struggle between tradition, history, and inevitable change.

Discussion with producer Tomáš Gič.