Synopsis

* Hong Kong Premiere

Official selection: Jeonju International Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival, Frameline - San Francisco LGBTQ Film Festival

Veit Helmer’s whimsical dialogue-free film GONDOLA follows two women Iva and Nino who work as gondola operators transporting people and cargo through the picturesque Caucasus mountains of Georgia. As they navigate their gondolas, the women begin a flirtatious courtship engaging in playful exchanges - from a game of chess to tossing a pomegranate - as their vessels pass one another. However, their burgeoning romance faces threats from their disapproving boss prompting the women to devise a delicious revenge. Helmer’s poetic realism and focus on nearly wordless encounters create a charming sensual tale of love blossoming in an enchanting setting. With its endearing leads and stunning mountain backdrop, GONDOLA is a sublime and smouldering story of love in mid-air.