Loreak (Flowers)

Nothing is technically wrong with Ane. According to her doctor, she is just experiencing a rare case of early menopause. And while the news is upsetting to childless Ane, she finds little comfort in her husband Ander, who rarely utters more than a few words to her. When a bouquet of flowers is delivered to Ane’s door, her spirits are lifted—she assumes Ander is finally expressing sympathy to her condition. But after she thanks him for the thoughtful gesture, he curtly denies responsibility. Over the next several weeks, Ane continues to receive a new, anonymous bouquet of flowers every Thursday. Though the flowers increasingly annoy Ander, Ane relishes in the idea of having a secret admirer. That is, until the flowers stop arriving. Told through multiple perspectives, Jon Garaño and José Marí Goenaga’s poignant and engrossing LOREAK (FLOWERS) explores how one of the simplest acts of kindness reinvigorates a woman’s life and how she returns the favor. (In Basque with subtitles) – E.B.