Khavaj, a young MMA (Mixed martial art) fighter, fled Chechnya when his brother discovered his homosexuality and threatened to kill him. In Brussels, facing the shock of exil, he is struck by mutism. The only link that he keeps with Chechnya are the vocal messages that his mother sends him. The film traces Khavaj’s first months in Belgium. Forced to live in total anonymity to escape the Chechnyan diaspora, he will try to build a new life. In Reka Valerik’s powerful directorial debut, we follow this struggle and appreciate the bravery of one person trying to rebuild their life from scratch all while relearning how to communicate.
(xposed film festival)