Mellow Mud

An atmospheric coming-of-age drama about the struggle for a self-determined life—impressively acted and directed: Loneliness, disillusionment, and the experience of first love shape the character of 17-year-old Raya, who lives with her grandmother and her little brother Robis in rural Latvia. A dramatic turn of events shakes her life to its core, and the young woman must make decisions that would be difficult even for an adult. In his powerful feature film debut, director Renārs Vimba handles the sensitive topic of coming of age with care and takes on the challenge of telling the story through the eyes of an adolescent. Few words are spoken in this raw coming-of-age drama. Instead, the images and sounds tell the story in a deeply sensory way of a young woman’s journey toward adulthood as she sets out on a path toward a self-determined future. Young actress Elina Vaska, in particular, beautifully captures the protagonist’s inner turmoil.