APRIL

Synopsis

Nina works in the only small hospital of a provincial town as an obstetrician-gynecologist. Single and in abstinence from personal relationships, she is unconditionally devoted to her Hippocratic oath. When a newborn dies within seconds of being delivered under her supervision, she is accused of wrongdoings. Under investigation, every detail of Nina's personal and professional life is being scrutinized. Despite the risks, Nina remains devoted to her duty as a doctor, committed to doing what nobody else will.

Statement of the director(s)

With APRIL, my goal was to explore and analyse the dichotomy and convergence between existence and womanhood. This naturally led me to the themes of birth and death. The story began with a singular woman, a character imbued with an epic quality. She is someone who endures suffering and channels that pain into her life choices and ambitions.
Despite this, she remains grounded and distinct from the rest of the world. By “epic,” I refer not to a narrative style but to the vast scope of an individual’s life and existence.
The film delves into the tangible, earthy aspects of life as well as the enigmatic and inexplicable dimensions of being. Nina lives the austere life of a doctor, risking her own well-being to provide illegal abortions for those in need. She encounters women in their most intimate moments, whether they are becoming mothers in the throes of excruciating labour or undergoing painful and clandestine abortions, hidden from their families.
Nina is a character who loves universally yet no one in particular. She possesses boundless empathy but struggles to form personal connections. She desires and needs nothing for herself, driven solely by her mission. However, she ultimately finds herself unable to effect significant change.