The story takes place in Albania. In a rugged, impoverished world where women are treated as chattel, some women escape their hard, gender-determined fate by claiming the status of “sworn virgins” before a dozen male elders, after which they don male garb and live as men.
They are then granted the privilege to engage in all male activities such as carrying rifles and hunting, but they are prohibited from engaging in sexual activity with either gender. In Albania's remote mountain villages, this custom dates back at least a couple of centuries is still practiced. Though the custom is now fading, it remains a unique aspect of the cultural heritage of these villages.
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 71% based on 17 reviews, and an average rating of 7.2/10.[5] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 70 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[6]
Writing for RogerEbert.com, Godfrey Cheshire gave the film 2 out of 4 stars. He stated that the film lacks dramatic power and unexpected revelation, but its details and subtle developments, such as the evolving relationship between the main character and her niece, are the most winning aspects.[7]
