“Becoming Ema” follows a young woman who, wanting to “become someone”, defies her parentsʼ expectations and societal norms. Ema and her husband, Tomáš, decide to step out of the hamster wheel of modern life, investing their savings in a rural plot of land to embrace a life close to nature and to fully experience the transformative power of motherhood. Emaʼs choice to prioritize family over financial security and a career creates a deep rift between her and her parents, who struggle to accept her decisions. As Ema and Tomáš navigate financial hardships and unresolved generational trauma, Ema turns to therapy and deep self-reflection. In the process, she discovers that the validation she seeks from her parents must come from within herself. “Becoming Ema” is an exploration of belonging and self-acceptance, and of motherhood and all its nuances.

The screening will be followed by a discussion with the film’s Slovak producer, Marcel Pazman, in Slovak. Diana Fabiánová will moderate.