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Kinga Chandler, a 46-year-old psychotherapist, seems to have it all—a “perfect suburban life” with her attorney husband, Tom, and their tween daughter, Sophie. However, beneath the polished exterior, Kinga’s world is unraveling. Her beloved cat is killed by a backyard cougar, her Hungarian mother, Klára, constantly lays on guilt and manipulates her emotions, Sophie is perpetually absorbed in her iPad, and Tom’s still chasing bedroom sparks, but Kinga’s libido is on a permanent coffee break. On top of all this, Kinga begins experiencing the first signs of perimenopause: heart palpitations, high blood pressure, irritability, anxiety, and panic attacks. Unaware that these symptoms are connected to menopause, she initially struggles to understand what’s happening to her.
When she seeks medical help, doctors either dismiss her concerns or misdiagnose her, leaving Kinga frustrated and searching for answers online. Through her own research, she realizes she’s in perimenopause and discovers that bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) might offer relief. Yet, her primary care physician refuses to prescribe estrogen, insisting that Kinga needs to suck it up because this is just “a natural part of aging.”
The alternative pharmaceutical drugs prescribed do not help, and her condition worsens. Eventually, Kinga is fired from her job due to poor attendance, which leads her into a deep despair and even thoughts of suicide. Ultimately, her survival instincts kick in, and she joins a secret social media group for menopausal women. Through this community, she finds a “hormone-friendly” provider who prescribes an estradiol patch, and Kinga immediately starts feeling better.
Meanwhile, Tom brings a new family dog into their lives—a Hungarian pumi named Bukshi—to replace Kinga’s cat. Though she is initially resentful, Bukshi becomes a vital source of emotional support as her symptoms intensify. This bond rekindles her connection to her Hungarian heritage, and Kinga becomes interested in breeding Bukshi. When she finds a suitable mate for Bukshi in Hungary, Kinga receives troubling news: her mother Klára has been diagnosed with breast cancer and requires surgery within days. Kinga flies to Budapest, carrying Bukshi’s DNA in her luggage to save costs.
After Klára’s successful surgery, old conflicts between mother and daughter come to the surface. Kinga finally asserts herself and sets healthy boundaries in their relationship. When she delivers Bukshi’s genetic material to Erzsi, the owner of Bukshi’s “long distance bride” who lives on a Hungarian homestead, Kinga meets a positive role model for life after menopause—someone living in tune with nature and focused on passing down her skills and values to the next generation.
Having fulfilled her dual missions in Hungary, Kinga returns home. During a follow-up visit with her gynecologist, she inadvertently mentions her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis. As a result, her doctor refuses to renew her HRT prescription. Kinga panics but quickly figures out that she can get a prescription through a different avenue.
By the end of the film, Kinga is transformed. She starts her own private practice and launches a support group for menopausal women. But perhaps even more importantly, when Sophie gets her first period, Kinga has an honest conversation with her about women’s health and menopause, breaking the longstanding cycle of silence between generations.