THE EMBRACE

In a small town from Romania, Sorana leads a comfortable life with her husband and their 17 year-old daughter. Deeply attached to her father, Miruna has a distant relationship with Sorana, a clumsy, introverted mother. In the heart of winter, Sorana discovers an improvised, illegal dwelling near her in-laws’ forest land, where a family with two children is living. Natalia, the mother, is barely older than Sorana’s own daughter. Neither she nor Vali, the kids’ father, has steady work. Moved by their situation, Sorana decides to help them—first with money and food, then by helping Natalia find a job and, eventually, a place to live. But as maternal feelings towards her gradually take hold, things begin to slip out of control. Torn between frustration and hope, Sorana clings to her mission despite the warning signs she chooses to ignore.