SYNOPSIS
In a remote Moldovan village, 42-year-old Elena leads a dual life. By day, she’s a simple peasant woman, tending to pigs, poultry, and a cow, under the controlling gaze of her mother, Ana. But Elena’s true passion lies in her role as the village’s beating heart – distributing donations to lonely elders, engaging children in environmental activities, and donning a Santa Claus costume each year to reward young volunteers. Despite her demanding responsibilities, Elena yearns for personal growth. She enrolls in online courses, listening to lectures while milking the cow. Driven by ambition and a desire to challenge the status quo, Elena makes a bold move: she decides to run for mayor.
- Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) | Doc@PÖFF International Competition Jury Special Prize 2025
- VERZIO Film Festival | Doc Future Competition 2025
- Moldox Film Festival | National Documentary Competition 2025
- Trieste Film Festival | Documentary Competition; CEI Award 2026
- IDFF Artdocfest/Riga | International Competition 2026
HaiDOC Productions
Tangaj Production
n /a
Elena Cernei
Writer | Raisa Răzmeriță, Ion Gnatiuc
Director | Raisa Răzmeriță
Producer | Ion Gnatiuc
Co-producer | Anamaria Antoci, Anda Ionescu
Director of Photography | Ion Gnatiuc
Editor | Mircea Olteanu
Sound | Ioan Filip, Dan-Ștefan Rucăreanu
Colorist | Andu Radu
Moldovan National Film Center
Romanian Film Centre
Malik Bendjelloul Memorial Foundation
IMS – International Media Support
B2B Doc Network
Liechtenstein Foundation
Goethe Zentrum Chișinău
Romanian National Television
ESoDoc | Best Pitch Award 2019
Balkan Documentary Center – BDC Discoveries | Best Pitch Award 2019
When East Meets West Co-Production Forum 2020
EAVE Producers Workshop 2021
Docu Rough Cut Boutique 2024
Work-in-Progress Kino Pavasaris 2024
Running time 96 min
Aspect Ratio 16:9
Sound 5.1
Color
Screening Format DCP 2K