Satisfaction

Burunova knows exactly what she's doing. She masterfully crafts a narrative that allows the story and performances to breathe, demonstrating a deep trust in the audience's ability to absorb the subtle nuances within each scene. Her direction builds tension effortlessly, creating an experience that is both gripping and immersive.

This is also one of the most gorgeous films I've seen in recent years. The cinematographer Máté Herbai elegantly carves with light and framing, capturing each moment with precision. His work beautifully complements the film's intimacy, enhancing its emotional depth and shifting moods.

Satisfaction is an emotional knockout. Emma Laird crushes it, delivering a performance that's raw, real, and impossible to look away from. Alex Burunova's direction is fearless, pulling you into a world, where every frame feels intentional, every moment lingers. The way the film explores resilience as a woman? It's gut-wrenching and deeply cathartic. The cinematography is stunning, the music lingers in your bones, and that Greek island backdrop is pure poetry. This isn't just a film-it's an experience. I felt seen and understood in a topic that is almost completely neglected in film but all too common in women's lives. I won't stop thinking about it anytime soon.

Emma Laird is phenomenal. She doesn't perform so much as exist on screen - every glance, every pause, every shift in her body carries weight. There's a storm constantly building behind her eyes, and she somehow manages to hold it in without ever feeling distant. It's the kind of performance that pulls you in and quietly wrecks you.

Fionn Whitehead matches her with a kind of understated vulnerability that adds even more tension to their dynamic. The chemistry is raw, complicated, and at times hard to watch - in the best way.

And the ending? It leaves you with a knot in your stomach and a million questions. It's not about clarity - it's about sitting with the discomfort.

Alex Burunova is a filmmaker in full command of her voice - precise, fearless, and unafraid to live in the gray. Satisfaction doesn't offer closure - it offers honesty. And it stays with you.

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.

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.