Synopsis

After receiving very few and conflicting information about the deteriorating condition of their mother Liliana, who underwent emergency surgery for a broken leg, brothers Ivan (43) and Petar (50) arrive at the hospital hoping to learn more and see her. Despite the widespread ban on visiting, imposed by the Covid crisis, Ivan has received the assurance of nurse Ivanova that her colleague will bring them in. That’s why the two have put away medicine and supplies for their mother, as well as a treat for the team. However, the treating doctor stubbornly does not pick up the phone and keeps them on edge. Junior nurse Sylvia (30) comes to pick them up and takes them on a detour as the official entrance to the ward where their mother is kept is monitored by cameras. Sylvia is tense and annoyed that she’s been forced to deal with this when she has plenty of other work to do. Thickly emphasizes how busy this period is for edical professionals, what a big exception is being made for the two brothers and what a risk this poses to the hospital. She hints that they won’t get by with just the candy and whiskey, which is why Ivan gives her money, which she is going to hand over to nurse Ivanova. The bottle with whiskey goes to one of the guards on the very confusing route through basements, elevators and endless corridors. Bitterly remembering how principled their late father was, Peter scolds Ivan for contibuting to this corrupt system, but is aware that there is no other way for them to see their mother. This becomes all the more urgent after Sylvia mentions that Liliana was admitted to intensive care last night, which no one told them about. They had already brought her back to the ward, but she didn’t recognize anyone because of her dementia. This was normal for her 88 years, but it was shocking news to the both brothers, as she had been completely dementia-free until that day. Sylvia doesn’t know the details and refuses to give more information, since that’s the doctor’s job. He finally picks up, but turns out to be on vacation, and the replacement colleague was already complete the work for the day. When Ivan uncritically pays an additional bribe for the ward’s senior nurse, Peter can’t stand it and leaves. Silvia ushers a sweating Ivan into his mother’s room, where he, after initial confusion, is horrified to discover that it is not her. Ivan panics and the nurses are about to call the security, when a nurse notices that there has been a confusion because of the name of the patient – it was Liliana Boneva, while he was looking for Bineva, who is in another room. In her embarrassment, Sylvia pretended that it was almost an amusing curiosity. However, Ivan couldn’t stand it and fainted. When he wakes up, Peter has come back because he got his way wrong, and because of the situation they let him in. They two go to see their mother, but Ivan, afraid of what he might see, stops at the door. Only after he realizes from his brother’s expression that their mother is indeed there and is fine, does he take a breathe and goes inside.