God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunija

This movie is very powerful because it is very powerful, and there is basically no weakness from script to photography to performance. The movie sparkles from the moment Peñia jumps into the water, making the eyes not want to leave for a second. The dialogue is full of humor, and several transitions from the camera lens to the reality are also very interesting.

I think there're some exageratted scenes, yet I guess it's important starting to introduce some feminism in cinema.

It can be discovered from different angles. As a religious film, as manifesto about women rights in Balkans, as support for reflection about social rules, love and mankind, about machism and about Church. But, for me it has two basic virtues - it is a well crafted film -Zorica Nusheva makes a magnificent role -, and its message in profound Christian. A great film about a woman, a cross, a priest, a reporter and a gift to a policeman.

I have just watched this movie in Athens and I am very satisfied with it. We were eleven spectators in the theatre during the 20:00 local time screening while rain and wind were raging outside. I had read about the message it seeks to convey and I think it does so very effectively. It is one-sided aligning with progress against religious tradition, obscurantism and male chauvinism. Some of those who uphold religious tradition and patriarchal authority are portrayed very negatively, the equivalent of "church and king" crowds of earlier times. Others such as the priest and some policemen are more ambivalent characters with both negative and positive aspects. Even the TV journalist though who upholds progressivism is not an altogether positive character. The plot is simple: an educated young woman who is nevertheless unemployed performs almost thoughtlessly a symbolic act which puts her at odds with the longstanding conventions and prejudices of a backward society and suffers the consequences. Clearly the movie sides with the open society option against ossified tradition. Not everyone will like this but most people in the West will.

A film which shall magnetize you through excellent acting, with an unusual camerawork, with symbolic sets. An East-European story, in a sorrowful environment, but through forgiveness, love and humanity prevails. In a very elegant (non-didactic) way. Best film for me recently.