PROVINCIAL ROMANCE (FEATURE)

KINO MEKANIKA - as PROD

Thriller - Development 2023

Through a series of misfortunes, a young Estonian woman reconsiders her career in the mafia when she gets pregnant unexpectedly. Crime drama/ dark comedy.

    • Year of production
    • 2023
    • Genres
    • Thriller, Drama, Action/Adventure
    • Countries
    • USA
    • Budget
    • 0 - 0.3 M$
    • Duration
    • 90 mn
    • Synopsis
    • With criminal activity on the rise, post-soviet Estonia in the 2000s is overwhelmed by a national identity crisis and a weak economy.
      In a small town, 23-year-old Molly steals newborn babies from maternity wards for her mafioso boss, Ben-- who claims that these babies will have amazing lives once they are sold to new, rich families. He happily profits off of what he truly believes is a good deed. With her physical training and cold exterior, Molly is the perfect candidate to carry out his bidding - until she realizes she is pregnant.
      Molly confides this news with her older colleague, Paulina, who immediately tells her to get an abortion. Meanwhile, Serge, the father of Molly’s unborn baby and Ben’s right-hand man, tells her he wants to raise the child with her. Molly begs him to help her leave the business.
      When Ben tells Molly that there is no way she can leave the business, Serge steals Ben’s gun and shoots him in the head. While he drags Ben’s body away, Molly escapes onto a ferry bound for Finland. She realizes her escape is short-lived, however, when she is approached on the ferry by two of Ben’s partners, who immediately bring her back to Serge.
      Now the head of the enterprise, Serge no longer trusts Molly and has assigned Molly’s job to his new girlfriend, Diana, while Molly is assigned to sex work under the supervision of Paulina. After seeing a doctor, Molly realizes she doesn’t want to get an abortion.
      Paulina sends Molly to her first client, Gert. Their relationship evolves, even though their sexual interactions are awkward. Meanwhile, Serge realizes that Diana doesn’t have the same capabilities as Molly when she steals an older child from a parking lot, resulting in less pay for the business.
      When Diana tries to steal a baby, Molly impulsively calls the police. Diana is killed by an ensuing car accident on the run from the police, and the baby she kidnapped is returned to its parents. The gang immediately suspects Molly as the cause of Diana’s death.
      Recalling her adolescence with her high school friends--a glue-sniffing Russian-Estonian gang living in the sewers-- she calls upon them for help to escape, promising weapons and money in exchange. While Molly is handcuffed to a bed, the gang starts a fight with the mafiosos which ends in a shoot-out.
      Paulina rescues Molly from the violent scene, and together they take the money and weapons from the safe. When Molly goes into labor and gives birth prematurely, Gert offers to raise the child with her, but she decides to give it up for adoption.