A new film by Georgian director Dea Kulumbegashvili will premiere this week at the Venice Film Festival, promising to spark important discussions about women’s healthcare access in rural Georgia. Titled “April,” the film focuses on Nina, a local doctor who secretly provides illegal abortions for women in need. During production, Georgia introduced new restrictions on abortion, further complicating rural women’s access to care.
The movie follows Nina, an obstetrician-gynecologist played by Ia Sukhitashvili, as she assists impoverished women in remote villages. While facing an investigation over a stillbirth, Nina continues aiding women through illegal abortions since many rural hospitals lack adequate resources. The director shadowed real medical professionals for months to authentically capture their daily challenges. “They have so much empathy. They’re so dedicated to their profession,” Kulumbegashvili said of the overworked doctors.
Kulumbegashvili’s interest in rural women’s health issues arose from scouting trips for her previous film. In some villages, she met mothers as young as 20 with up to eight children, unable to read or write. “Was it her choice to have that many children?” the director wondered. These encounters inspired her to examine limited access to contraception and education.
While the film may spark controversy domestically, Kulumbegashvili hopes it facilitates important discussions. Anticipating backlash, she privately funded the movie without state support. The director also gave birth during production, deepening her connection to the subject. Following premieres in Venice, Toronto and New York, “April” will receive a limited Georgian release, though the director fears criticism from the government and church. Her priority remains portraying rural doctors’ efforts to provide care under challenging conditions with insufficient support. As Georgia adopts stricter abortion policies, “April” hopes to shed light on the consequences for its most vulnerable women.
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