I hope to revisit this with a longer review if I can, but for now I will say this film was deeply moving. I never, NEVER say that about a movie - usually that's a cheesy overwrought thing to say, but this film actually is. It's just a notch or two short of something like "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly". Totally different subject matter, of course; and not as wrenching, but really truly worthwhile. All I'll say is that the main story is about a woman who does or did not quite fit in, and the secondary story is about a young woman coming of age who does not *want* to fit in.
I might say that it's about a culture different than ours that somehow developed a way of accommodating people who do not fit into the mainstream, rather like the 'berdache' among North American Natives or maybe those known as 'hijra' of South Asia.
Take a look at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albanian_sworn_virgins for a little background.
Anyway, it's beautifully filmed, very well realized, and very affecting. I'll be thinking about it for some time. See it in a real theater if you get a chance.
I might say that it's about a culture different than ours that somehow developed a way of accommodating people who do not fit into the mainstream, rather like the 'berdache' among North American Natives or maybe those known as 'hijra' of South Asia.
Take a look at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albanian_sworn_virgins for a little background.
Anyway, it's beautifully filmed, very well realized, and very affecting. I'll be thinking about it for some time. See it in a real theater if you get a chance.