Flesh, Blood, Even a Heart

When you think positively, the universe responds. This gentle, feel-good coming-of-age dramedy for 30-somethings follows Liv, a passionate woman struggling with body insecurities. She carries her past lightly and never judges others. She loves water flowers and has a soft spot for poodles, despite never having owned a dog. Once, Liv dreamed of being a Barbie and still hopes her loving, somewhat old-fashioned husband finds her irresistible, even if their kisses are few and far between.

Everything changes when Liv receives a sudden call: her estranged father is in a coma and undergoing intensive therapy. Her awkward, cynical mother remains stuck in the past with rigid rules and sees the stroke as a random attempt to escape. Liv wants to speak to her father, but each visit leaves her lost in the maze-like corridors of the brutalist hospital.

Director Alise Zariņa brings a tender, ironic touch to her personal script, weaving in flashbacks to Liv’s childhood in another era. As a child, Liv longed for a Barbie but never had one. Now, her daughter has discovered Barbie’s secret: when thrown to the ground, nothing bad happens to the doll.

Edvinas Pukšta