In Tbilisi a homeless mother, Zhana, resorts to surrogacy to provide a safe life for her teenage daughter, Elene. While trying to keep her pregnancies hidden from Elene, Zhana's financial struggles persist. With no proper regulations in place, she pushes her body to the extreme through multiple childbirths, taking a dangerous toll on her organs and risking her life. As Zhana’s health declines, Elene matures and eventually confronts her mother about her choices and their consequences. Through the director’s decade-long friendship with the duo, the film explores the evolving dynamics of the mother-daughter relationship and raises questions about the extent of a mother’s sacrifice.
FILM DETAILS
Georgia, Germany, Bulgaria · 2025 · 77 min · Documentary
Original language: Georgian
Themes: Reproductive rights, human rights, female body
AVAILABLE TERRITORIES
LatAm, Asia (excl. Taiwan, Japan, Turkey), Nordics, BeNeLux
Festivals and Awards
DOC NYC
Hot Docs
DocsBarcelona
DOK.fest München
Movies that Matter Festival
CPH:DOX 2025: Human Rights Award
Verzió Human Rights Documentary Film Festival 2025: Best International Documentary
Alternativa Film Festival 2026: Spotlight Award
CREDITS
Director and screenwriter: Ketevan Vashagashvili
Producers: Anna Khazaradze, Nino Chichua, Martichka Bozhilova, Sylvia Nagel
Cinematographers: Giviko Tukhareli, Ketevan Vashagashvili
Key cast: Zhana Vakhtangashvili, Elene Kukhtinovi
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