God Exists, Her Name is Petrunya

Every 19th January during Epiphany, a unique ceremony takes place all around Macedonia: the high priest throws a cross into the local waters while hundreds of men charge for it. The one who finds it is blessed for the entirety of the next year and becomes somewhat of a local hero. Petrunya is single and unemployed 31-year-old woman and historian who lives with her parents. Returning home from a failed job interview in a sweatshop factory she witnesses the ceremony, decides to jump, swims and catches the cross. Immediately, the men attack her and wrestle the cross out of her hands since, as a woman, she has no right to participate. A commotion follows and, during the confusion, Petrunya runs away with the cross. Over the next few hours her jump into the icy water becomes an Internet sensation. Petrunya is taken to a police station, and this is where her ordeal begins: against the local men, against the world, against the system. Through these 24 hours we discover a society full of stereotypes barely sustained by a collapsing social and justice system. However, Petrunija believes that she is the legitimate winner of the contest and is not willing to return the cross under any circumstances. Everything will turn against her and yet she will stand firm with a decision that her country is not willing to accept.

The film is directed by Teona Strugar Mitevska and stars Zorica Nusheva and Labina Mitevska.