In the early 90’s, women left Moldova in large numbers to provide for their families. Unable to return home, they found a peculiar way to stay in touch: sending large cardboard boxes filled with gifts and food you could only dream about in those days. In return, their children would send videotapes. This exchange became a ritual among thousands of families. Video cameras and presents allowed these mothers and children to share glimpses of their realities while being apart.

Through these intimate private archives, Otilia Babara depicts the fragility of family bonds through the eyes of a generation of mothers and daughters who were forced to live apart in order to survive. While doing so, she portrays a post-soviet country caught in a crossroads of history. A country whose women were unwittingly put in charge of making the transition from communism to capitalism.

DOK Leipzig - World premiere
Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival, Silver Eye Award
London Film Week - UK Premiere

Interview with director Otilia Barbara in Cineuropa - 20 October 2022

A Clin d'oeil production in co-production with Alegria Films (France) and Altfilm (Moldova). Supported by Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds, Creative Europe MEDIA Programme of the European Union and Netherlands Film Fund (NFF).

DIRECTOR Otilia Barbara
SOUND Mark Glynne
SOUND DESIGN Olmo van Straalen
EDITOR Pierpaolo Filomeno
PRODUCER Hanne Phlypo - Clin d'oeil
CO-PRODUCER Christine Camdessus - Alegria Films
CO-PRODUCER Simone van den Broek - Basalt Film
CO-PRODUCER Otilia Babara