Da Mere Gatenda -2021- __exclusive__

The film is noted for its intense atmosphere and explores the deep-seated trauma that can exist within a family home.

Dito Tsintsadze is known for his dark, often absurdist takes on human relationships. This film continues his exploration of isolated individuals trapped in difficult circumstances.

"Da Mere" is not a personal name but a title given to the senior spiritual leader of the Tonga people along the Zambezi Valley. The Tonga people, displaced during the construction of the Kariba Dam in the 1950s, hold deep spiritual connections to the river. Da Mere serves as the intercessor between the living and the ancestors (specifically the water spirits, or Njuzu ).

The film explores how power is exerted through guilt and caretaking rather than physical strength.

However, for the Tonga people, 2021 was defined by a singular, shocking event:

The precarious stability of their lives is shattered when Nika’s girlfriend, Nastya , arrives unannounced.

As the year 2021 began, the village was abuzz with excitement. The annual Harvest Festival was approaching, and everyone was preparing for the big celebration. But amidst all the joy and anticipation, a sense of unease settled over Nalwanga. She had been having strange and disturbing dreams, warning her of an impending disaster that threatened to destroy the village's most prized possession: a majestic, centuries-old fig tree.