Becoming
Zhannat Alshanova | The Netherlands, France, Kazachstan, Litouwen, Sweden 2025 | 94 minutes | language: Russian, Kazachs | subtitles: Dutch
In Almaty, Kazakhstan, 17-year-old Mila is trying to escape the chaos of her home life. When she happens to see a girls’ open-water swimming team practicing, she’s immediately drawn to the group and their mysterious coach, Vlad.
Empowered by this sense of belonging, she decides to do whatever it takes to become the best swimmer and thus escape the chaos at home. However, this new world of ambition and discipline also brings with it tensions and uncertainties. When her spot on the team is threatened, she must decide how far she’s willing to go to keep it.
