Beginning

A Jehovah's Witness community in a remote Georgian village is attacked by an armed group, shattering the fragile peace of the community. Yana, the wife of the community's leader, struggles to reconcile her faith and her personal desires amidst the ensuing violence and societal judgment. As she navigates the aftermath, she begins to question the foundations of her beliefs and her own identity.

Beginning received widespread critical acclaim, with particular praise for its direction, cinematography, and the central performance by Ia Sukhitashvili. Critics lauded its deliberate pacing and its unflinching exploration of themes like faith, patriarchy, and female agency.

• A powerful and visually stunning exploration of faith and female identity.

• Déa Kulumbegashvili's assured direction marks her as a significant new voice in cinema.

• Ia Sukhitashvili delivers a mesmerizing performance as a woman pushed to her limits.

Google audience: Audiences praised the film's artistic merit, striking visuals, and the intense emotional journey of the protagonist. Some viewers found the pacing slow, but the overall sentiment was highly positive, appreciating its thought-provoking themes and strong performances.

Won the FIPRESCI Prize at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, and received awards at festivals in Toronto, Thessaloniki, and Tbilisi.

Director Déa Kulumbegashvili wrote the screenplay based on experiences from her own childhood growing up in a Jehovah's Witness community in Georgia.