Bucharest-born helmer Sarra Tsorakidis’s debut feature, a drama titled Ink Wash, will world-premiere in the Discovery strand of the Toronto International Film Festival, running this year from 5-15 September (see the news).

An alumna of Bucharest’s National University of Theatre and Film, Tsorakidis has previously directed two shorts that have been well received internationally. The first was Ivy (2018), which told the story of a young woman trapped inside a very toxic friendship that ends up destroying her love life, whilst the second was Kaimos (2020), about a middle-aged woman who returns to her native country after many years of living abroad.

The plot of Ink Wash zooms in on Lena, a painter who earns a living by creating mural artworks. The woman is in a very vulnerable place in her life. She is turning 40 and is single again after having spent years in a relationship that has just ended. Disillusioned and heartbroken, Lena takes refuge in her work, painting the walls of a brutalist hotel surrounded by forests in south-western Romania. Isolated in the midst of nature, she is forced to discover her inner strength and moral values in a country overwhelmed by corruption.

The script was penned by the helmer herself with Ilinca Hărnuț, who also plays the leading role.

The main cast is rounded off by Kenneth M Christensen, Radouan Leflahi, Maria Popistașu, Ana Ularu, Rolando Matsangos, Mircea Postelnicu and Joachim Umlauf. Key creatives include DoP Radu Voinea, editor Smaro Papaevagelou, production designer Alma Ungureanu and painter Florina Drăguș.

“This is a film about heartbreak and the incredible ability one has to get better, even when everything seems hopeless. Lena starts out by being scared of her feelings, repressing and ignoring them. She is dreading the impending approach of the menopause and has to come to terms with the fact that she might never experience childbirth. Over the course of the film, she comes to change her approach and becomes more open and grateful for her experiences, no matter if they are good or bad. Learning how to let go of the things she wants in order to stay true to her values is the journey she has to make,” says Tsorakidis in her director’s notes.

Ink Wash is being produced by Anca Puiu for Romania’s Mandragora, and co-produced by Nikos Moustakas for Greece’s Bad Crowd and Katrine Dolmer for Denmark’s Angel Films.

Marseille-based outfit Shellac is selling the feature worldwide.