While working in Germany as a hotel maid, Ukrainian woman Marija dreams of opening her own beauty salon. But when she is discovered stealing earrings, she is fired and her means of achieving her dream evaporate in an instant. She decides to make money in whatever way she can, even if that choice endangers her body, her relationships with others, and her mental health. Foregrounding immigration issues in Europe, Marija is about the choices a woman must make—and doing whatever she can—to make her dream a reality. The film begins with a view of Marija’s back. The camera follows her movements; it follows mainly her back walking away. Though, at the end of the film, we see her from the front. This sudden change lends itself a clear meaning. The film is a noteworthy feature debut that maintains its tension until the very end. (RHEE Souewon)