Whether villagers gossip, calling her a spinster, or her friends pity her for not having a husband or children, Etero is content with just a piece of sweet pastry. One day, narrowly escaping a near-fatal accident while picking blackberries in the mountains, Etero suddenly finds herself engulfed by a whirlwind of passion for the first time in her life. Director Elene Naveriani’s third feature film brings to life the tender yet strong portrayal of a woman who chooses a free and self-determined existence in Georgia, a society dominated by conservative patriarchal norms, through the stellar performance of the lead actor Eka Chavleishvili. If you’ve ever questioned the ‘natural order’ of marriage, childbirth, and child-rearing, then the barriers of prejudice that Etero confronts head-on in her journey to find a life she truly desires will be chillingly familiar. As the film concludes amidst unforeseen circumstances, the decision Etero makes remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: She can be confident that whatever she chooses is entirely her own. (Karen PARK)