Valley of the Widows
After the sudden loss of her husband, 45-year-old Valerica returns to her childhood home in a nearly abandoned Transylvanian village, now sinking under mining waste. In a valley dismissed by the world, much like the widows who remain there, Valerica is building what she calls her own little paradise, reclaiming purpose for both the land and her life
At 45, Valerica finds herself at the lowest point in her life: drained of confidence, unsure of her worth, and relegated—like the valley itself—to a forgotten zone. With the help of Maria, a sharp-tongued, 77-year-old widow to whom she fetches clean drinking water from the spring every few days, Valerica tries to stand on her own two feet. In return, Maria looks after her and teaches her the old ways of surviving on her own.
Maria becomes Valerica’s closest companion and mentor in her new life. Their bond—half maternal, half confrontational, is full of well hidden affection and dark humor. Thanks to Maria, Valerica begins to rebuild her life—with her bare hands, stubborn will, and growing refusal to be erased. However, Maria soon has to leave the valley involuntarily. The mining waste is slowly but surely approaching.
Film Topics Include:
Miro Jelok
Co-DirectorKatarína Jonisová
Co-DirectorDonate to this Fiscally Sponsored Project
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