Ink Wash

At first glance, understated but piercingly profound, Sarra Tsorakidis' remarkable debut speaks both on a personal and a political level. It follows the story of a woman nearing 40, who attempts to reassess her priorities and gain a clearer perspective on her life and the world around her. Lena, a painter recovering from a breakup, is hired to paint a mural in a brutalist hotel undergoing renovation in the Romanian countryside. Surrounded by unfamiliar landscapes, caught between the imposing architecture and the vast, untamed nature, Lena embarks on her own quiet journey, without dramatic outbursts, towards emotional and psychological serenity. Steering away from the morally intense dramas of contemporary Romanian cinema, Ink Wash introduces a filmmaker with a distinctive voice and a rich aesthetic palette, masterfully connecting the personal with the broader picture of a country and a generation in transition, offering deep insight with subtlety and clarity.