In Bloom

In Bloom unfolds in the early 1990s, in the newly independent country of Georgia, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The feature bathes viewers in a bygone era marked by uncertainty, austerity, and the intertwining of newfound freedoms and persisting traditional norms. This critically praised drama, directed by Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross, stars Lika Babluani, Mariam Bokeria, and Zurab Gogaladze in seminal roles.

At the heart of the narrative are two teenage girls, Eka (Lika Babluani) and Natia (Mariam Bokeria), who navigate through a world of chaos, obnoxious traditions and the sharply contrasting joys and disillusionments that come with adolescence. They grapple with the turbulent world around them, the threat of kidnappings and violence, while they hang onto their aspirations, romanticism and friendship. In a society destabilized by political changes and populated by aggressive men, the two girls form an emotional refuge for each other.

The story ventures deep into ground realities, effortlessly showing girls facing the trials, tribulations and traditional rituals of adolescence in a society caught between the East and the West, modernity and tradition. Captured brilliantly through a vivid palette of emotions, evidencing the stark divide between innocence and the first encounters with the harsh realities of the world, the girl’s journey can be heartbreaking at times. The movie intrically navigates between moments of joyous friendship, burgeoning love, patriarchal oppression, and fear-inducing societal mores.

The movie packs with it a sense of impending dread, as the directors beautifully capture Tbilisi's crumbling buildings, neglected alleyways, and the prevalent lawlessness. The frequent appearances of a wedding procession in a truck with a kidnapped bride, almost normalized as background hum, serve as a reminder of the aggressiveness of the society.

Much of the focus falls on Natia dealing with unwanted advances and the eventual prospect of a forced marriage while Eka, as an objective observer and a loyal friend, grapples with the unfolding situation in her stoic reserve.

In Bloom is as much a coming-of-age movie as a social commentary on the newly independent country. A backdrop of bread lines and dysfunctional homes reflects the social and economic chaos of a war-torn society looking to find order and stability. The transformative journey of the two main characters is matched stride for stride with the tumultuous evolution of Tbilisi, as both struggle to find their footing.

The film attempts to question the set societal norms through the intimate friendship of the two girls and the chaos induced by horrifying traditions. Bokeria and Babluani play their roles with a kind of raw honesty and their on-screen camaraderie is a treat to watch. The support cast adds depth to the film, reflecting the varied facets of Georgian society.

In Bloom provides a significant and emotional insight into the way of life in post-Soviet Georgia, drawing heavily on director Ekvtimishvili's memories and experiences of growing up in Tbilisi in the 1990s. Filmed mainly in the alleyways and old apartments of the city, cinematographer Oleg Mutu suffuses the film with wonderful natural light sets that make Tbilisi a character in its own right.

The capable hands of Ekvtimishvili and Gross have used their vision and skill to produce a film that is a fitting and poignant chronicle of a society in flux, seen through the eyes of young, hopeful girls about to bloom into womanhood. In Bloom tends to oscillate between the grim and the hopeful, between the eras past and those yet to come, underscoring the uncertain path that lies before both the main characters and the country itself.

Beautifully shot and poignantly scripted, In Bloom captures the freshness of youth against the bleak landscape of a country struggling to redefine itself. It is a splendid reflection of how social customs impact personal life choices and freedom. In Bloom is an insightful and engaging movie that deftly treads the delicate balance between personal narratives and social commentary, proving itself both a powerful drama and a thoughtful statement on a countries and individual's transitional periods.