Mama

Inspired by stories told to writer-director Or Sinai by a Ukrainian housekeeper that once worked for her parents, Mama highlights the significant 21st century trend of Eastern European women moving to the West for work. Evgenia Dodina stars as Mila, a pragmatist who supports her family back home in Poland – her husband Antek and her young adult daughter Kasia, so she can attend university and pursue an independent life. "Don't make the same mistakes as me," she tells Kasia. Sinai's adroit screenplay combines emotional honesty with tender compassion, as Mila returns home to realise her roles as wife and mother have changed irrevocably in her long absence. The result is a compelling drama about love, pride and sacrifice.