Art, Exile, and Identity: A Father's Bulgarian Journey

Nina Roza, a new feature from Geneviève Dulude-de Celle, intricately weaves themes of art and exile. The narrative centers on Mihail, a Montreal-based curator, who travels to Bulgaria, his homeland, for the first time in decades. His mission is to evaluate the potential of an 8-year-old girl, Nina, who has created abstract paintings suggesting a budding genius.

Mihail's journey becomes a profound meditation on estrangement, particularly his strained relationship with his daughter, Rose, and his reluctance to revisit his past. As he bonds with Nina and her mother in a rural Bulgarian village, he begins to see reflections of his own daughter. The film artfully questions the value of one's origins against the allure of a better life abroad.

The narrative culminates in Mihail confronting his past and the loved ones he left behind, while Nina faces a decision about relocating to Rome for her art. The film explores the inherent price of choosing between staying rooted and pursuing opportunity, portraying Mihail's trip as an initiation into self-discovery.