FREE ON CINEGEEK.DE God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya 

Teona Strugar Mitevskas film is about violence against women. The weapons: Words and gestures. This is how the conversation between Petrunya (Zorica Nusheva) and her boss works: That her study of history is useless and that she can't even fuck. That's why Petrunya jumps into the water on Epiphany Day and pulls out the holy cross. And only men are allowed to do that! Actually. It should be the beginning of her martyrdom. The film is based on a true event from the north of Macedonia. In fact, a woman grabbed the cross and was chased by a mob mob, as you can read in the Berlinale text on the film. The film doesn't want to portray this incident quietly and subtly, but as a confrontation. Underlaid with heavy metal. We experience a patriarchal society on the level of the Middle Ages. The state is not secular, men and women are unequal. Therefore Petrunya is brought to the police. There they discuss with the priest what should happen now. Hate strikes against her. At the precinct, from her own mother. Petrunya is constantly expected to be attacked. Zorica Nusheva plays this woman as a true heroine, who is not mistakenly heroized here. She does nothing but simply stand up for herself. And what will happen to her in the future? Maybe she will experience a year of happiness like the catcher of the cross is entitled to.