Mariam Bokeria (left) and Lika Babluani in In Bloom (Big World Pictures)

With Generation X getting older, there has been an increase in coming-of-age films and television series taking place in the late 1980s/early ’90s. From Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being of Wallflower to the more unknown, but delightful, Irish television series Moone Boy created by Chris O’Dowd, these stories have been focusing on this time period. While international politics remain in the periphery of such examples, In Bloom seamlessly depicts two girls growing up in post-Cold War Republic of Georgia, combining a traditional coming-of-age tale with the political turmoil that engulfs the country.

The film takes place in the early ’90s in the capital city of Tbilisi in the recently independent country, just after the fall of the Soviet Union. Eka and Natia (played by Lika Babluani and Mariam Bokeria) are 14 year olds, dealing with boys, school, and rough family lives. All their typical teenage troubles are made even harsher by the atmosphere around them. There is violence in the streets and a shortage of food. Eka’s father is absent, presumably in jail, having something to do with the not-so-distant war. She lives with her mother and sisters. Meanwhile, Natia’s parents are constantly fighting, and she’s the one left to comfort her younger brother.

Eka is the quieter one, and Lika Babluani plays the role with a mature, quiet confidence. This is juxtaposed by Natia’s more outgoing, boisterous, and even violent personality. Multiple boys pursue Natia, one of whom gives her a gun for her protection. She ends up marrying another, much to the dismay of Eka. The wedding scene stands out in exhibiting the two friends’ distinct ways of dealing with their lives. Overall, the film moves slowly but deliberately. While the two girls’ relationship and their family lives make up the story, the plot has little trajectory other than displaying the struggle of growing up in such an environment.

There are glimpses of the outside world: a Phil Collins song can be heard in the background of one scene. But these two teenagers don’t spend much time listening to music or talking about movie stars, common in other such movies. These moments are brief. Otherwise, the film is claustrophobic in its presentation of Georgia. It is a beautifully dark, though not hopeless, story, and the lack of pop culture places an emphasis on the political upheaval. It is also worth noting the film’s take on feminist issues at the time. Eka and Natia constantly struggle with the overbearing men in their lives and are clearly upset by their lack of power. The focus surprisingly shifts from teenage boy-related problems to quite adult issues of gender relations.

The story is based on co-director Nana Ekvtimshvili’s childhood and the film does have a personal feel. As Georgia’s submission in the best foreign language film category for the upcoming Oscars, it seems the perfect choice (though it did not make the short list of eligible films). In Bloom takes a standard and popular genre and makes it unique through its setting and its tough, but honest voice.