The title of Ketevan Kapanadze’s documentary debut is taken from a poem by Audre Lorde; the room in question is one of the safe spaces that a group of young queer people have created for themselves in the Georgian city of Kutaisi. Some of them play in the same football team. They are like family to each other, sharing accommodation and everyday life, caring for and supporting each other. The future hovers over their shared moments of smoking, drinking and talking. For now, the present and their kinship are more important. But while sharing rooms and hanging out together provide some kind of protection, a different reality forces its way into the apartment with the hateful slogans of queerphobic activists. HOW THE ROOM FELT is a gentle attempt to capture a feeling and bring it to the cinema: the spirit of togetherness in a group which has to strengthen itself against outside aggression and does not want to surrender the right to enjoy closeness and intimacy in peace. (lm)