Satisfaction

I saw Satisfaction at a screening and was brought to tears. Director Alex Burunova is a master of her craft, coaxing incredible performances out of her top notch cast and mixing poignant storytelling with stunning visuals to create a movie that has left an imprint on my heart.

The challenging subject matter is handled with care and respect, and the musical score could be a character of its own. It's hard to find words for how impressive this film is!

The film's protagonist, Lola, is unforgettable. Her story is both relatable and exotic, and the chemistry she has with her co stars is electric.

Had the pleasure of seeing this film -- and hearing it -- at SXSW. It's a movie that stays with you, isn't afraid to trust the audience to go on the journey. The cinematography is stunning, unwavering and set up as if each shot is its own piece of art. The performances are commanding, patient and do not look away from the ugliest parts of ourselves. I think it could have so easily swung into the melodramatic or waring, but instead it is the restrained performances, particularly of Emma Laird who plays Lola, that carries us through. I want to spend a season on a Greek island like this one, but not like this. Will be watching again. Bravo.

WOW. Satisfaction was so satisfying. The movie is set on the dreamy Greek islands where an emotional story unfolds about a woman named Lola, who's totally lost in her own world. There are themes of intimacy, identity, and creative silence, all with a bold, sensual edge. Emma Laird as Lola is amazingly subtle yet so powerful. The tension, the chemistry, and the way things spiral all feels so real and intense. The whole vibe of the film feels fresh and honest in a way you don't see often. It's bold, it's vulnerable, and it sticks with you. I'll be thinking about this movie for the rest of my life. Alex Burunova has a unique voice as a filmmaker. I can't wait to see what she dreams up next.

Satisfaction is a quietly magnetic film that pulses with emotional depth and artistic flair. Alex Burunova crafts a story that feels both personal and expansive, drawing you into moments that are at once raw, tender, and contemplative. With striking visuals and a poetic rhythm, the film doesn't rush to explain itself-it invites you to feel your way through it. The performances are subtle yet powerful, grounding the film's more abstract layers in genuine human emotion. It's the kind of story that leaves space for reflection and stays with you long after it ends. Amazing directing, actors and cinematography!

No over-explaining, no unnecessary exposition-just pure, confident storytelling. Burunova understands that cinema is at its most powerful when it allows the audience to engage, interpret, and feel without being spoon-fed. Instead of forcing explanations, she lets the story breathe, using atmosphere, glances, and unspoken moments to communicate just as much as-if not more than-dialogue ever could.

Many films fall into the trap of over-explaining their themes, afraid that viewers won't "get it" unless every detail is spelled out. Satisfaction takes the opposite approach, trusting that the audience will pick up on the subtleties-the shift in body language, the weight of a pause, the tension in a moment of silence. It's a refreshing and rare kind of filmmaking, one that rewards patience and attention to detail.