In Bloom (film)

In Bloom (Georgian: გაზაფხული ჩემს ქალაქში, Gazapkhuli Chems Kalakshi, literally "Spring in My Town") is a 2013 Georgian-German-French coming-of-age drama film directed by Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Groß. It is set in Tbilisi, Georgia in 1992, shortly after the country's independence from the Soviet Union and amidst the Abkhazian War.

The film follows the lives of two teenage girls, Eka and Natia, as they navigate the complexities of adolescence and the societal challenges of post-Soviet Georgia. The story explores themes of friendship, love, violence, and the struggle for independence and identity in a turbulent time. Eka and Natia face issues such as unwanted attention from men, arranged marriages, and the pervasive presence of weapons and crime in their community.

In Bloom was critically acclaimed for its realistic portrayal of Georgian life in the 1990s, its strong female characters, and its sensitive handling of complex social issues. The film premiered at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the C.I.C.A.E. Award. It was also selected as the Georgian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards, but was not nominated.