April (2024 film)
Film directed by Dea Kulumbegashvili
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
April (Georgian: აპრილი, romanized: ap'rili) is a 2024 drama film written and directed by Dea Kulumbegashvili.[4] It stars Ia Sukhitashvili, Kakha Kintsurashvili and Merab Ninidze.
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- Ilan Amouyal
- Archil Gelovani
- Luca Guadagnino
- Francesco Melzi d'Eril
- Gabriele Bebe Moratti
- Alexandra Rossi
- David Zerat
- Adrien Dassault
- Steven Darty
| April | |
|---|---|
French theatrical release poster | |
| Georgian | აპრილი |
| Directed by | Dea Kulumbegashvili |
| Written by | Dea Kulumbegashvili |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Arseni Khachaturan |
| Edited by | Jacopo Ramella Pajrin |
| Music by | Matthew Herbert |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Pyramide Distribution (France) |
Release dates |
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Running time | 134 minutes[1] |
| Countries | Georgia Italy France |
| Language | Georgian |
| Budget | €2 million |
| Box office | $61,179[2][3] |
The film had its world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival,[1] where it won the Special Jury Prize.[5]
Premise
Nina, an obstetrician in rural Georgia who aids patients seeking abortions despite legal prohibition, must defend her values and actions when she is accused of negligence and subject to investigation.[4]
Cast
- Ia Sukhitashvili as Nina
- Kakha Kintsurashvili as David
- Merab Ninidze as the chief physician
Production
Following the success of her first feature film Beginning, Kulumbegashvili was awarded a 2022 Baumi Script Development Award to begin work on her next feature, then titled Historia, about a Georgian obstetrician who provides illegal abortions.[6] That December, Cineuropa reported that filming would commence the following March with financial support from Arte France Cinéma.[7] It was shot by Georgian cinematographer Arseni Khachaturan, who also shot Beginning, on 35mm film.[8]
Release
April was acquired for international sales by Goodfellas, then known as Wild Bunch International. By December 2022, the project was slated for a 2024 release date, though Screen Daily reported in May 2023 that the film was expected to premiere at that year's Cannes Film Festival.[9][10]
In July 2024, April was announced as a main competition entry at the 81st Venice International Film Festival.[11] It has been selected for the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024 under the World Cinema section.[12]
Reception
Critical reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 95% of 59 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "Directed with unflinching verve by Dea Kulumbegashvili, April is a searing depiction of professional integrity and the visceral realities of childbirth."[13]
Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 86 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[14]
"Déa Kulumbegashvili presents an utterly uncompromising and audacious sophomore feature with April .... Rooted in female experience, Kulumbegashvili's curiously titled film is an odd, searing story about the nature of seeking and refusing to look away from the vivid realities of the feminine experience. The director's own pregnancy during production only furthers this tension of femininity through simultaneous motherhood, work, and artistic expression." [15]
In June 2025, IndieWire ranked the film at number 53 on its list of "The 100 Best Movies of the 2020s (So Far)."[16]
Accolades
| Award | Ceremony date | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venice International Film Festival | 7 September 2024 | Golden Lion | Dea Kulumbegashvili | Nominated | [17] |
| Special Jury Prize | Won | ||||
| San Sebastián International Film Festival | 28 September 2024 | Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Award | April | Won | [18] |
| BFI London Film Festival | 20 October 2024 | Best Film | Nominated | [19] | |
| Asia Pacific Screen Awards | 30 November 2024 | Best Film | Won | [20] [21] | |
| Best Director | Dea Kulumbegashvili | Nominated | |||
| Best Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
| Best Performance | Ia Sukhitashvili | Won | |||
| Best Cinematography | Arseni Khachaturan | Nominated | |||
| TOKYO FILMeX | 30 November 2024 | Grand Prize | April | Won | [22] |
| European Film Awards | 7 December 2024 | European University Film Award | Dea Kulumbegashvili | Nominated | [23] |
| Singapore International Film Festival | 8 December 2024 | Best Screenplay | Won | [24] | |
| Vilnius International Film Festival | 23 March 2025 | Best Film | Dea Kulumbegashvili | Won | [25] |
