As We Breathe

A chemical fire spreads dark omens through an Anatolian village and seems to have existential consequences for a ten-year-old girl, in an atmospheric coming-of-age story that deftly shifts between charm and chaos.

An accident at the factory leads to unemployment and toxic fires in the Turkish community. Esma’s father is among those who lose their jobs and are forced into a strained financial situation where everything seems to happen at once—from the son’s mysterious nosebleeds to the car breaking down. As the fires draw closer, Esma is compelled to take responsibility for her endangered family. Debut filmmaker Şeyhmus Altun builds a tightly wound atmosphere that surprises with a skillful shift in perspective, from a father’s struggle to protect his family to a young girl’s emotional release.

• Annie Karlsson