LEMONADE

Mara, a young Romanian woman, has just moved to the US with Dragos, her 9-year-old son, marrying Daniel, an American she has met only a few months ago. The film follows her through a series of revealing encounters during one day, from her problems of babysitting, her unplanned and uncomfortable meeting with a U.S. immigration official, to dealing with the police about her son she had to leave in a motel room and the bank issue for a loan with her husband.

Ioana Uricaru is born and raised in Romania, she studied biology before turning to film. She graduated with a masters in film and television production from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in California, followed by a PhD in critical studies at the same institution. She is an alumna of the 2008 Berlinale Talents. She has also participated in the Cinéfondation Residence in Cannes, the Sundance Directors Lab and the Torino Film Lab. In 2016 she received a fellowship from the American Academy in Berlin.

Built around an excellent, harrowingly sensitive lead performance by Malina Manovici, it was one of the standout world premieres at this year's Berlinale, where its combination of quiet style and provocative content played well with audiences.

Nil Jang, Holivud Riporter