Ena Sendijarević’s quirky and surreal debut feature shows the complicated nature of familial relationships in this teen European road movie about a search for identity, adulthood, romance and self-realization.

On the edge of adulthood, Alma (Sara Luna Zoric) leaves her mother’s home in the Netherlands and travels to her native Bosnia to visit the father she has never met. However, from the start nothing goes as planned, as her cousin Emir gives her a frosty reception and mocks her easy life in the West. At the same time, an undeniable sexual chemistry leads Alma into a passionate relationship with Emir’s best friend, the troublemaker Denis.

High on the reckless energy of youth, this rebellious trio sets off on the adventure together, embarking on an increasingly unpredictable road trip through the scorching Bosnian heartland. Over the course of the journey and as the obstacles mount, Alma stays fearlessly determined to follow her plan and find her father, but she has to accept and understand herself, embracing all challenges that come her way. What follows is reminiscent of the works of Hal Hartley and Jim Jarmusch, glazed in a layer of Bosnian absurdism, while also being colorful and stylish, with visuals that make the experience immensely enjoyable.

Screened in Dutch, English, and Bosnian with English subtitles.

Ena Sendijarević  |  The Netherlands/Bosnia and Herzegovina  |  2019  | 91 minutes