Cert 15
102 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong language
About this time of year, movies which were submitted but rejected for best foreign film category at the Oscars find their way to the UK cinema screens.
This is the case with Georgia's entry, In Bloom, which may not have tickled the fancy of the Hollywood judges but certainly has been given plaudits elsewhere, picking up 19 awards and five nominations.
Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross's film is set in 1992, during the time of the Georgian civil war.
But it doesn't concern the conflict itself, instead focusing on the lives of two teenage girls who are living on its fringes.
Thus, it not only immerses the audience into Georgian culture but also gives a perspective of what life is like during conflict.
The effect of the latter is that food is in short supply, the youth lose their motivation and life becomes much cheaper than it otherwise would be.
And yet, through it all, two girls, Natia (Mariam Bokeria) and Eka (Lika Babluani) have the normal conversations and fall-outs over boys, school and family.
These are a feisty pair, played with gusto by two teenagers who have picked up a glut of prizes for their portrayals.
In contrast to their sparkle, In Bloom is shrouded in austerity. It gives a picture of a time where little is flowering with the exception of the country's youth.
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 7/10