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    APRIL

    APRIL 
    Georgia, France, Italy

    SYNOPSIS

    Nina works in the only small hospital of a provincial town as an obstetrician-gynecologist. Single and in abstinence from personal relationships, she is unconditionally devoted to her Hippocratic oath. When a newborn dies within seconds of being delivered under her supervision, she is accused of wrongdoings. Under investigation, every detail of Nina’s personal and professional life is being scrutinized. Despite the risks, Nina remains devoted to her duty as a doctor, committed to doing what nobody else will.

    CREDITS

    Written & directed by: Dea Kulumbegashvili
    Produced by: Luca Guadagnino, David Zerat, Ilan Amouyal, Francesco Melzi D’Eril, Archil Gelovani, Alexandra Rossi, Gabriele Bebe Moratti
    Cinematography: Arseni Khachaturan
    Editing: Jacopo Ramella Pajrin
    Production Design: Beka Tabukashvili
    Costume Design: Nikoloz Guraspashvili, Tornike Kirtadze
    Make-Up & Hair: Kristyan Mallett, Ludmila Iakobashvili, Sopo Machavariani
    Original Score: Matthew Herbert
    Sound: Lars Ginzel, Tina Laschke, Zezva Poshkhidze
    Visual Effects: Florian Ast, Sebastian Nozon
    Casting: Leli Mimimoshvili
    Cast: Ia Sukhitashvili (Nina), Kakha Kintsurashvili (David), Merab Ninidze (Head Doctor)

    STATEMENT OF THE DIRECTOR

    With APRIL, my goal was to explore and analyse the dichotomy and convergence between existence and womanhood. This naturally led me to the themes of birth and death. The story began with a singular woman, a character imbued with an epic quality. She is someone who endures suffering and channels that pain into her life choices and ambitions.
    Despite this, she remains grounded and distinct from the rest of the world. By “epic,” I refer not to a narrative style but to the vast scope of an individual’s life and existence.
    The film delves into the tangible, earthy aspects of life as well as the enigmatic and inexplicable dimensions of being. Nina lives the austere life of a doctor, risking her own well-being to provide illegal abortions for those in need. She encounters women in their most intimate moments, whether they are becoming mothers in the throes of excruciating labour or undergoing painful and clandestine abortions, hidden from their families.
    Nina is a character who loves universally yet no one in particular. She possesses boundless empathy but struggles to form personal connections. She desires and needs nothing for herself, driven solely by her mission. However, she ultimately finds herself unable to effect significant change.

    • Feature Film Selection 2024