Young Mary is in transition. Her parents are preparing her for confirmation. She is the daughter of a shepherd, and therefore is brought up in strictness. Deep down, she dreams of living like her peers – looking beautiful, dressing up, falling in love, spending time with friends, but her parents want to see her as an example of morality and humility. Inside it, a real struggle breaks out - between desires and prohibition, fears and the spirit of freedom, which is stronger than family fetters.
The film is notable for revealing the hypocrisy, stupidity, ignorance of Orthodox Christian ministry. The main character does not abandon faith in God, on the contrary, her faith is stronger than that of most parishioners in this church, because it is based on sincerity and honest attitude to life, and not in blind adherence to the canons. She, unlike her devout parents, realizes for the first time that the true God does not need kneeling, he needs to see joy and smiles on our faces.
It seems that God did not very well create man.
I don't know. Why are you asking?
- He didn't create us to ask for forgiveness all the time. Because if so, how can it be called a successful creation?
The female director Berit Nesheim perfectly managed to reveal the theme of the flowering of femininity and experiences of the young heroine. The film received an Oscar nomination as "Best Foreign Film".