The script written by Volkashin himself follows Dora, a middle-aged housewife, who after quitting her job as a head nurse, devotes all her time to her family and orchard, until the day her husband rescues a wounded young woman. Dora takes her into their home to nurture her back to health, but falls madly in love with her. Torn by the fear of her own “unnatural feelings”, love turns into anguish and madness inside Dora, unleashing a series of desperate actions. 

The main characters are played by four actresses from different generations: Zorica Nusheva in the lead role, Leo Popović, Ana Kostovska and Jana Nikodinovska.

The Sweet Bitterness of Ripe Pomegranates is produced by Elena Stanisheva through Veda Film Productions in coproduction with Pavlina Angelova and Nikolay Todorov through Screening Emotions (Bulgaria) and Zvonimir Munivrana through Studio Corvus (Croatia). The film is supported by the North Macedonia Film Agency (with 308,943 EUR / 19 m MKD), the Bulgarian National Film Center (with 48,000 EUR), the Croatian Audiovisual Centre (with35,000 EUR) and Eurimages (with 48,000 EUR).

The project was developed at TFL's Script Lab 2019 and awarded the APostLab 2022 postproduction award.

The shooting started in the middle of April 2024 and continued on various locations in the municipalities of Gevgelija and Demir Kapija until 20 May 2024.

Production Information:

Producer:
Veda Film Productions (North Macedonia)
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Coproducers:
Screening Emotions (Bulgaria)
Studio Corvus (Croatia)

Credits:
Director: Andrey I. Volkashin
Screenwriter: Andrey I. Volkashin
DoP: Kiril Prodanov
Editor: NevelinVulchev
Production designer: Boyana Bachvarova
Art director: Vlatko Cacorovski
Costume designer: Ilina Cholak
Makeup artist: Simona Ristevska
Casting director: Kirijana A. Nikoloska
Cast: Zorica Nusheva, Leo Popović, Ana Kostovska, Jana Nikodinovska, Gorast Cvetkovski, Aleksandra Peshevska