In Bloom (2014)
85%RT Audience Score: 76%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins
A coming-of-age drama entwined with a political statement, In Bloom underscores its well-worn themes with strong performances and palpable real-world tension
In Bloom is like a coming-of-age story, but with a lot more drama and a lot less Zac Efron. The two lead actresses, Lika Babluani and Mariam Bokeria, are the real deal and carry the film with their performances. The movie is set in Georgia (the country, not the state) and it’s like a glimpse into a society that’s not too far from the Middle Ages. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, but it’s definitely worth a watch if you’re in the mood for something a little heavier. Just don’t expect to leave the movie feeling like you can conquer the world.
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures, Bona Film Group Heyday Films,
Distributor
Big World Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Sheridan School – 191 Fountain Street, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violent and disturbing content, language and brief drug use
Year of Release
2008
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital SDDS DTS
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 42m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:Georgia (Eurasia), Germany
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 10, 2014 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 18, 2015
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
coming-of-age, drama, Georgian, Nana Ekvtimishvili, Simon Groß, Guillaume de Seille, Marc Wächter, Tamar Bukhnikashvili, Lika Babluani, Mariam Bokeria, Eka Khizanishvili, Natia Zaridze, box office, budget, reviewed by Kate Muir, reviewed by Drew Hunt, reviewed by Philippa Hawker, reviewed by David Stratton, reviewed by Stephanie Merry, reviewed by Mark Kermode, MPAA rating, Big World Pictures, societal customs, female friendship, political statement, real-world tension, adolescence, independent female identity, violence, anarchy, Middle Ages, limited choices, naturalistic performances, severe performances, shouting matches
Worldwide gross: $7,248,490
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $9,984,518
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,968
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,088,824
US/Canada gross: $303,439
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $417,976
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,369
US/Canada opening weekend: $20,220
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $27,852
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,389
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $13,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $17,907,003
Production budget ranking: 1,424
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $9,642,921
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$17,565,407
ROI to date (est.): -64%
ROI ranking: 1,768
Lika Babluani – Eka Khizanishvili
Mariam Bokeria – Natia Zaridze
Zurab Gogaladze – Kote
Data Zakareishvili – Lado
Ana Nijaradze – Ana
Nana Ekvtimishvili – Director, Writer
Simon Groß – Director, Producer
Guillaume de Seille – Producer
Marc Wächter – Producer
Big World Pictures – Distributor
Director(s)
Nana Ekvtimishvili, Simon Groß
Writer(s)
Nana Ekvtimishvili
Producer(s)
Guillaume de Seille, Nana Ekvtimishvili, Marc Wächter, Simon Groß
Film Festivals
Berlin
Awards & Nominations
2 wins
Academy Awards
All Critics (51) | Top Critics (30) | Fresh (46) | Rotten (5)
The leads are played with freshness and mischief by Lika Babluani as Eka and Mariam Bokeria as Natia.
June 2, 2015 | Rating: 3/5
Kate Muir
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Directors Nana Ekvtimshvili and Simon Gross adopt the long, contemplative takes of the new wave; much of the film feels familiar, but the location shooting and period details are nicely drawn, a result of Ekvtimshvili’s autobiographical script.
December 19, 2014
Drew Hunt
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
This is a story of adolescence and female friendship under pressure, explored with a quietly engrossing combination of familiarity and strangeness.
September 26, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Philippa Hawker
The Age (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
Babluani and Bokeria are completely believable as the two teenagers who have to grow up very quickly, and a long, uninterrupted scene in which the former dances, alone, at her friend’s wedding is a highlight of an extremely engaging movie.
September 26, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
David Stratton
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
The viewer becomes keenly aware that she is only getting part of the story. But when the truth is so troubling, sometimes part of the story is more than enough.
June 26, 2014 | Rating: 3/4
Stephanie Merry
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
This terrifically engaging work raises important questions about universal experience and cultural context – in this case, the search for independent female identity in a society all but suffocated by the threat of violence.
May 4, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Mark Kermode
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
If a movie is going to be so rigid in crafting a realistic setting, it should have real movement to the story. Little here is invigorating.
December 8, 2020
Mat Bradley-Tschirgi
Battleship Pretension
The whole cast more than holds its own, whether its members are young or old, experienced or newcomers, but the two lead actresses are the film’s anchor.
August 17, 2020
Vladan Petkovic
Cineuropa
Watching the fates of Eka and Natia, we begin to feel a bit glazed over ourselves.
August 29, 2019 | Rating: 2.5/5
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com
It’s [the] deft balance between the light and the dark which ultimately makes In Bloom so successful.
March 21, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Daniel Green
CineVue
This film out of Georgia (the country, not the state) depicts a society not far removed from anarchy, or the Middle Ages, for that matter. There’s not much light or laughter in this grim tale of limited choices.
June 2, 2015 | Rating: C+
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope
The performances are naturalistic and severe, especially the highly volatile families, where shouting matches are almost traumatising to hear and to watch. But … the film ends without having said enough to satisfy us
November 12, 2014
Andrew L. Urban
Urban Cinefile…
Plot
A dramatic thriller about Diana, a suburban wife and mother who begins to question her seemingly perfect life
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels praises the lead actresses, Lika Babluani and Mariam Bokeria, for their fresh and believable performances as the two teenagers navigating their way through a turbulent family life.
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