Synopsis
Russian propaganda claimed that their military would be greeted with flowers in Ukraine. They were cruelly mistaken.
Our film tells the story of four women who used to work at a flower shop in the center of Kyiv before the start of the full-scale war. These heroines vary in age, social status, and life perspectives, but they all share a love for flowers and a desire to bring beauty to people's lives. However, their common purpose shifts when they unite to confront the aggressor.
Initially, none of them believed in the war. The shop owner, Oleksandra, even ordered and paid for a batch of flowers from the Netherlands for International Women's Day on March 8th.
But from February 24th, each heroine embarks on her own path:
- Oleksandra (51), a shop owner, becomes a volunteer and transforms her flower shop into a medical supply volunteer hub.
- Sophia (35), a florist, is forced to become a refugee and with her two children flees to the Netherlands, where their partners promise to help her.
- Louise (23), a florist, a girl with Greek roots, has been trying to get her parents out of her native Mariupol since the first days of the war.
- Nadiya (64), a merchandiser who admired Russia, finds herself amidst the battle for Irpin, a town near Kyiv. Сommunication with her is lost or a long time.
Olekandra's mother is diabetic and constantly needs medication, but with the onset of the full-scale invasion, supplies are cut off and pharmacies are emptied. Olekandra finds a solution and organizes the delivery of vital medications from Europe for both soldiers and civilians.
4 years ago, for the sake of her dream to be a florist, Louise quit her medical studies in her native Mariupol, had a fight with her parents-doctors who pressured her not to break the dynastic tradition, left for Kyiv and has not kept in touch with them since. Now, with Oleksandra's help, she finds volunteers who organize the evacuation of her parents. The quarrel and resentment have been forgotten - the main thing is that everyone is alive and together again. Louise, who has completed two years of medical univercity, helps out at a military hospital where she falls in love with a wounded soldier.
Sophia faces everything that refugees face: a different way of life, lack of basic household practices, children who do not understand what is happening. Her life becomes divided - consciously, she's in Europe, solving immediate problems and cherishing her children's safety. However, her heart remains in Ukraine, torn by the inability to provide assistance. Oleksandra advises her to settle in the Netherlands due to the prolonged war. Sofia, who had been thinking about emigrating with her husband before the war started, dreams of returning home, especially since her husband has enlisted in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Nadiya's neighbor visits the shop with a dog. She reveals that Nadiya is wounded from a mine explosion and can't leave the city, even if she wanted to. She asks to take care of her dog. Thus, a mongrel dog named Manya appears in the shop.
Oleksandra's partners are asking her what to do with the flowers she had paid for before the war. Sophia has an idea how to transform the flowers into aid for Ukraine. Together with her daughterand partners, they appear on local television and announce that this weekend a charity flower sale will take place on the central square of the city this weekend, with all the money going to help Ukraine.Over the weekend, hundreds of people gather to buy flowers for Ukraine, and even after the flowers are gone, people continue to donate.
Despite the war, life goes on - the first customer who wants to buy flowers for his wife who gave birth to their first kid shows up at the store. It means that they need to work both for victory and for for people's well-being. People need something that brings a moment of joy, something to momentarily forget about the war. Alexandra gives the happy father the last orchid that was still standing among the boxes of medication.
Oleksandra's mother dies. At the cemetery, the funeral attendees see several fresh graves of Ukrainian soldiers and a bulldozer clearing space for new graves. Luiza tells her parents that she is going to the front as part of a medical team, and they accept her choice.
In April Russian forces start withdrawing from Kyiv. Oleksandra takes the dog, goes to Irpin and finds Nadiya's house. Nadiya miraculously survived. Two women, embracing each other, are crying in a dilapidated house, while Manya is whimpering with happiness below.
Oleksandra and Nadiya decide to reopen the flower shop, allocating a part of it as a volunteer hub. Sophia realizes she cannot live in Europe. Even though she would attempt it in any other circumstance, her country, husband, and friends need her support. Sophia returns and continues working in her beloved shop.
In early May, Louise marries her boyfriend, who has to return to the front after being wounded. Both are dressed in military uniforms, and Louise holds a beautiful bouquet. Behind them, along with their parents and friends, stand Oleksandra, Sophia, and Nadiya.
They all step outside. Louise turns her back and throws the bouquet to her friends. Unexpectedly for everyone, the bouquet lands right into Oleksandra's hands.
