Almost timeless and placeless; minimalist yet strikingly powerful! Veit Helmer’s Gondola tells the story of a deepening bond between two young women through dialogue that requires no words and captivating cinematography. Set against the fairy-tale landscapes of the Georgian mountains, the story unfolds around a cable car connecting a mountain village that seems beyond the world to a valley settlement. Iva and Nina begin working as conductors on the gondola. Each time they pass, they greet one another; though they carry out their jobs separately, they manage to make the most of these brief encounters, nurturing a growing closeness.The film’s color palette and acting style playfully evoke the innocence of childhood and youth, while also engaging with mature and often complex ideas in a way reminiscent of Amélie. Through meticulous staging and costume design, Helmer plays with the notion of temporality. In doing so, he effectively touches on deeper, more contemporary themes—most notably, the clash between modernity and tradition, a tension that strongly resonates beyond the film’s world.