This powerful story with a strong script and visuals touches the deepest strings of the viewer’s soul by promoting acceptance and non-attachment to pain through embracing one’s life regardless of the situation one ended up in, like the main character of the film did. Metaphoric use of nature is skilfully incorporated to reflect and foster the inner conflict of the protagonist as she follows her instinct and decides to address her sorrows rather than freeze them and let them ruin her from inside. She abandons jealousy for the good of understanding; she abandons a need to possess for the good of sharing; she abandons her grief for the good of moving on in life. The film advocates for mutual forgiveness and understanding, as both outer and inner conflicts bring the main characters to the reconciliation with each other, with the late husband/lover/father and with themselves. The topic of reconciliation regardless of diversity is crucial in the modern turbulent world, where humankind suffers devastating conflicts.
50th Molodist International Film Festival Kyiv
At the 50th International Film Festival "Molodist" in Kyiv 2021 the Ecumenical Jury awarded prizes in three categories. The prize for a full length film of the International Competition went to "After Love" by Aleem Khan (United Kingdom, 2020). "Into the Night" by Kamila Tarabura (Poland, 2020) won the Prize for the best short film, and "Parole" by Vojtěch Novotný (Czech Republic, 2020) was awarded as best student film.
The Grand Prix of the anniversary edition of the festival went to "Becoming Mona", directed by Sabine Lubbe Bakker and Niels van Koevorden (Netherlands, 2020). "Celts", directed by Milica Tomović was awarded as Best Feature Film.
The 50th Kiev International Film Festival "Molodist" opened on 29 May with the Ukrainian film "Babylon XX", which won the Grand Prix of the festival in 1979. The festival took place in hybrid form, i.e. partly online and partly physically on site. In addition to the International Competition, there was the National Competition and the Documentary Competition as well as, a special feature of the festival, the Sunny Bunny Competition on LGBT themes. Other sections were "Forma" with experimental and innovative films or the retrospective "Century". The Ecumenical Jury watched the programme online.
Awards
This dynamic and complex story about a universal issue of the hard time one usually goes through as a teenager invokes contemplations about standing up for one’s true nature. We observe the main character’s evolution from pursuing a strong confrontation with the world, particularly with her mother and classmates, to breaking free through a spontaneous uncommon situation as she follows her impulses and makes friends with a girl who is her total opposite. The skilfully set sequence of events builds up a hopeful vibe as the characters embrace their own and each other’s personalities, release their emotions, and acknowledge their inner struggles. As the film focuses on identity it suggests that one can overcome external circumstances that oppress their free will and self-expression. The optimistic message accomplishes the artistic quality of the film and the well-developed inner conflict of the protagonist.
This gripping and highly emotional story about a challenge to embrace inner combats resonates very well with the audience. The inner conflict of the protagonist, who is his own antagonist at the same time, is in the center of a well-developed plot. The viewer follows the young man along the path to understand his inner struggle, which appears to be the source of his outer violence. The well-acted tension builds up as the main character, devastated by his coming of age strife, is challenged by his friends and his mother, and thus raises the issue of the crucial role these intimate relationships usually play in development of a person. As the powerful final scene gives hope for reconciliation, after the young protagonist has been pushed to frightful extremes, the message of the film is the importance of self-relationship and embracing one’s inner clashes, no matter what their outer reasons are.
