Alexandra Makarová’s thrilling drama PERLA tells the story of a woman who fled the communist oppression in Czechoslovakia to raise her daughter in Vienna.
Rebeka Poláková’s delicate performance as Perla reflects her inner turmoil caused by not being able to let go of her past while trying to provide a better life for her daughter.
The film consists of meticulously composed, beautiful shots and those alone would make it worth watching. The gripping narrative intensifies as Perla faces a series of high-stakes decisions, leading to a memorable finale. (Bronski Beat’s Smalltown Boy was used in the first few minutes, which is never a bad choice to get one excited for a film.)
