Magdana’s Donkey

Widow Magdana tries to provide for her three children by selling yoghurt, which forces her to a long and painful back-and-forth to the city—until she shelters an abused donkey that may better life for the whole family. Addressing late nineteenth century Caucasus with neorealist sensitivity enabled by the Khrushchev Thaw, and including references to other times and injustices, the film was awarded at Cannes and marked the resurgence of Georgian cinema.