Olga, a young woman from Belarus, became a nun while her husband, Oleg, was incarcerated. Her intention was to rejoin the world she’d previously known, but events prevent that from happening. The film unfolds against the backdrop of stark black and white photography depicting the rural, snow-covered farm that serves as their monastery, showing how she attempts to adapt. We also meet members of her wider Christian community and observe the conflicting viewpoints within a population struggling for internal harmony while still regularly attending services to hear the priest’s compassionate teachings. Over ninety minutes, we get to know Olga and witness her acceptance, or even appreciation, of the simple life she now leads. She enjoys horses, which briefly takes her to France, but otherwise the story remains grounded in its setting. The film is presented as an observational documentary, a style that initially proves quite powerful. However, after about thirty minutes, I felt the production began to seem somewhat artificial. It wasn't overly rehearsed, but the scenes around the fire and the conversations meant to appear natural started to feel too deliberately arranged for the audience rather than authentic to those involved. As her story progresses, I thought it would have worked better as a traditional drama. Despite this, there’s very little dialogue, allowing the visuals to carry more weight, and they do effectively communicate the harshness of a life where faith and divine grace are essential for survival.

Source on TMDB