In Bloom review

With the Georgian civil war serving as a brutal backdrop, 14-year-old friends Eka and Natia (exceptional newcomers Lika Babluani and Mariam Bokeria) contend with Tbilisi’s treacherous streets and oppressive social mores. And as civility and sympathy prove to be in as short supply, the girls’ unwavering devotion to each other makes for absorbing drama.

Likewise, their staunch defiance of their patriarchal culture’s traditions lends their coming-of-age arc a revolutionary air. Working with co-directed Simon Groß, Nana Ekvtimishvili draws from her own memories to craft an assured film.