ANTHOLOGY OF THE PLOT / SUOKALBIO ANTOLOGIJA

Documentary, 26′, LT, 2015

Director / Editor: Artūras Jevdokimovas
Director Of Photography: Rimvydas Leipus
Sound Designer: Vladimir Golovnitsky
Postproduction: Tomas Rugevičius Rugys
Producers: Jurga Dikčiuvienė , Daiva Vaitekūnaitė
Production: Studio Kinema
Poems by Benediktas Januševičius
Contact: Artūras Jevdokimovas (arturas [at] tinklai.net)

In the 90s, cult café “Suokalbis” was a space that experimented with the notion of absolute freedom. This film takes the viewer back to that time and place, showing all the different personalities who danced on the tables.

Awards:
Silver Crane Award 2016 – Best Short Documentary

Trailer:
https://vimeo.com/149640194

Website:
http://suokalbis.lt/

BACK / NAMO

Drama, 19’, LT, 2016

Director / Screenwriter / Editor: Gabrielė Urbonaitė
Director of Photography: Pal Ulvik Rokseth
Sound Designer: Jonas Jocys
Production Designer: Mindaugas Juodagalvis
Art Director: Darija Skvarnavičiūtė
Costume Designer: Monika Vėbraitė
Composer: Snorre Bergerud
Producers: Ieva Bužinskaitė, Jonas Špokas
Production: Apricot films
Contact: Apricot films, Ieva Bužinskaitė (ieva [at] apricotfilms.lt] Actors: Severija Bielskytė, Šarūnas Zenkevičius, Viola Klimčiauskaitė, Eglė Lekstutytė, Petras Kuneika, Dainius Jankauskas, Aistė Diržiūtė, Vytautas Rašimas

Ieva, a young actress, returns to Vilnius after four years in Hollywood. Her expectation to find everything as she left it is as flawed as the image her family and friends have of her.

Award:
Kino pavasaris IFF 2016 – Special Jury Mention

Trailer:
https://vimeo.com/157308741

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/backthefilm/

CATS OF AMBER BAY / MARIŲ KATĖS

Documentary, 8′, LT, 2015

Director / Producer: Eglė Burbaitė
Director of Photography: Aivaras Skrodenis
Editor / 2nd Camera: Rūta Kalviša
Sound Designer: Iveta Macevičiūtė
Composer: Gediminas Sudnikavičius
Production: Cloud Production
Contact: Eglė Burbaitė (egle.burbaite [at] gmail.com)

The Amber Bay lies near a small town on the magical Curonian Spit. Over the years it has become a place where stray cats live and die in freedom.

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqceNTlSK2I

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/CatsofAmberBay/

DEMBAVA / DEMBAVA

Drama / Crime, 10′, LT, 2014

Director / Screenwriter / Director of Photography: Laurynas Bareiša
Producer: Klementina Remeikaitė, Marija Kavtaradzė
Production: Afterschool, LMTA
Contact: Afterschool, Klementina Remeikaitė (k.remeikaite [at] gmail.com)
Main Actors: Paulius Markevičius, Laurynas Jurgelis

Two brothers drive around working out what they should do after having kidnapped and raped a girl the night before.

Award:
2ANNAS IFF 2014 – Special Award

HEAVEN TOO CLOSE

Music Video / Drama / Mystery / Experimental, 5′, LT, 2014

Directors: Martynas Norvaišas, Kamilė Milašiūtė
Director of Photography: Martynas Norvaišas
Editor: Laurynas Bareiša
Production Designer: Sigita Šimkūnaitė
Music: “earCraft”
Sound Designer: Iveta Macevičiutė
Producer: Marija Fridinovaitė
Contact: Marija Fridinovaitė (fridinovaite [at] gmail.com)
Main Actors: Eglė Valadkevičiutė, Aleksandr Špilevoj, Rokas Maliukevičius, Vitalija Mockevičiutė

Contemporary boredom and longing for sensations turn into self-destruction in this music video for the Vilnius-based electro band “earCraft”.

HOULY POULY

Music Video / Animation, LT, 2013

Director / Animator – Urtė Oettinger
Music: “Kurak”, feat. Markas Palubenka
Composer: Vygintas Kisevičius
Lyrics: Markas Palubenka
Producer Martynas Butkevičius
Contact: Martynas Butkevičius

The voice of Markas Palubenka lures us into the morphing musical world of “Kurak”.

HUNT / MEDŽIOKLĖ

Animation / Adventure, 1′, LT, 2015

Directors / Screenwriters: Meinardas Valkevičius, Sigitas Mikūta
Animators: Sigitas Mikūta, Meinardas Valkevičius, Ainis Karpavicius
Illustrator: Milda Karpavičiūtė
Storyboard: Darija Čiuželytė
Composer: Martynas Radavičius
Sound Designer: Sigitas Mikūta
Producer: Meinardas Valkevičius
Production / Contact: MeinArt (info [at] meinart.lt)

A wildlife hunter learns a lesson about the cycle of hunting.

IFT ( ICE FISHING TRIP) / KŽŽ (KALĖDINIS ŽIEMOS ŽYGIS)

Documentary / Mockumentary / Comedy, 12′, LT, 2016

Director: Lina Margaitytė, Marius Krivičius
Director of Photography: Marius Krivičius
Editor: Lina Margaitytė
Music: W. A. Mozart “Rondo Alla Turca”
Contact: Marius Krivičius (mkrivicius [at] gmail.com)
Protagonist: Andrej Polukord

Every winter, best friends Andrius and Rokas go on an ice fishing trip. This year Rokas has decided to travel the world, so Andrius sets off on the trip on his own.

Trailer:
https://vimeo.com/mariuskrivicius/kzztrailer

IGLOO / IGLU

Drama, 20′, LT, 2015

Director, Screenwriter: Marija Kavtaradzė, Vytautas Katkus
Director of Photography: Vytautas Katkus
Editor: Akvilė Gelažiūtė
Sound Designer: Lina Semaškaitė
Composer: Karolis Vyšniauskas
Producer: Klementina Remeikaitė
Production: Afterschool
Contact: Afterschool, Klementina Remeikaitė (k.remeikaite [at] gmail.com)
Actors: Greta Petrovskytė, Gediminas Rimeika, Aldona Vilutytė, Paulius Markevičius

Greta returns to Lithuania to find out her room has been converted into a hair salon. Unsure where to go, she builds an igloo in the courtyard – to the consternation of her neighbours.

Award:
Lithuanian Association of Cinematographers / Gilė 2016 – Best Short Cinematography

Trailer:
https://vimeo.com/143126658

JUNCTION / VIRSMAS

Animation / Coming of Age, 7′, LT / CAN / AUS, 2016

Director / Screenwriter: Nathan Jurevicius
Animator: Donnie Anderson
Editor / Composer / Sound Designer: Luke Jurevicius
Producer – Miglė Pelakauskė, Vitalijus Žukas
Production – OKTA studio, Vishus Production, Gallus Entertainment, PetPunk
Contact – Miglė Pelakauskė (hello [at] petpunk.com)
Narrator: Jill Watson

The youngest of the Face Changers is in charge of performing the ritual that changes the winds and the faces of his kin. For this he needs to take the 10 000 footsteps to the top of the mountain. Based on Nathan Jurevicius’ award winning graphic novel.

Awards:
Kino Pavasaris IFF 2016 – Audience Award
Rincón IFF 2016 – International Jury Award
Cayman Islands IFF 2016 – Best Short Movie

Trailer:
https://vimeo.com/159754949

JUNIPER CRESCENT / KADAGIO GATVĖ

Romance / Drama / Comedy, 27’, LT / GB, 2013

Director / Screenwriter / Editor: Tadas Vidmantas
Director of Photography: Ronaldas Buožis
Composer: Julija Jačėnaitė
Sound Designer: Julius Zubavičius
Producers: Justinas Piliponis, Ronaldas Buožis, Tadas Vidmantas
Production / Contact: Sleepthinker (engage [at] sleepthinker.com)
Actors: Christoph Schechinger, Victoria Emslie, Ieva Andrejevaitė

Patrick’s one-night stand gets trapped in the bathroom. Since he can’t kick her out like he would normally do, he is forced to start a conversation.

Trailer:
https://vimeo.com/83308810

LAYERS / SLUOKSNIAI

Documentary, 13′, LT, 2016

Director: Alanas Gurinas
Director of Photography: Alanas Gurinas, Patricija Andrijaitytė
Music: “Garbanotas bosistas”-”Places, Planes and Trains”, “Arklio galia” – “Netgi Arkliui”
Production: Skalvijos kino akademija
Contact: Akvilė Gelažiūtė (akademija [at] skalvija.lt)

Vilnius as seen through the eyes of skateboarders. The footage, spanning 3 years, uncovers a range of stereotypes, conflicts and attitudes regarding these “hooligans on wheels”.

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL AND NEVERENDING / GYVENIMAS YRA GRAŽUS IR NIEKADA NESIBAIGIA

Drama, 19′, LT, 2016

Director / Screenwriter: Saulė Bliuvaitė
Director of Photography: Linas Žiūra
Editor: Saulė Bliuvaitė, Ignė Narbutaitė
Sound Designers: Pranciškus Brazdžiūnas, Rokas Dobilas
Producer: Ona Kotryna Dikavičiūtė
Production: LMTA
Contact: Ona Kotryna Dikavičiūtė (ona.dikaviciute [at] gmail.com)
Main Actors: Justina Nemanytė, Eglė Ancevičiūtė, Linas Žiūra

Two women in their mid-twenties are looking for drugs in nighttime Vilnius. As their adventure unfolds, the gloomy city’s nightlife, full of apathy and miscommunication, is revealed.

Trailer:
https://vimeo.com/181456860

LYING DOWN / ANT ŽEMĖS

Drama / Comedy / Coming of Age, 15′, LT / UK, 2014

Director / Composer: Pijus Mickus
Screenwriter: Matthew Lavigne Smith
Director of Photography: William Boldy, Jonathan Thomson
Editor: Gabriel Gane
Producer: Benjamin Mankin
Production: University for the Creative Arts
Contact: Pijus Mickus (pijus.mickus [at] gmail.com)
Main Actors: Elliot Milner, Rebecca Todd, Ray Richardson

11-year-old Peter is going through a hard time. His mother has just passed away, and now he is left with a baffled father and an unsigned sex education permission slip.

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ScholarsMovie/

POLAR PARTY / POLIARINIS VAKARĖLIS

Drama, 18′, LT, 2015

Director, Screenwriter: Domas Petronis
Director of Photography:Zbigniev Bartoševič
Producer: Klementina Remeikaitė, Paulius Michalovskis
Production: LMTA
Contact: Klementina Remeikaitė (k.remeikaite [at] gmail.com)
Actors:Indrė Patkauskaitė, Simonas Storpirštis, Vytautas Narbutas, Adelė Šuminskaitė

Three young people sway between friendship and lust, existential angst and mindless fun, distance and intimacy. Decisions have no place at their never-ending party in the long Lithuanian winter.

Trailer:
https://vimeo.com/164841328

THE AMATEURS / MĖGĖJAI

Documentary, 23′, LT, 2015

Director: Audrius Antanavičius
Director of Photography: Eitvydas Doškus
Editor: Ieva Veiverytė
Sound Designer: Ignas Lungevičius
Producer: Marija Razgutė
Production: Čiobreliai
Contact: Čiobreliai, Marija Razgutė (marija [at] ciobreliai.lt)
Protagonists: Vitolis Laumakys, Adolfas Morėnas

What does it mean to have lived a fulfilling life? This documentary conveys the magic of cinema through the story of the two passionate amateur filmmakers who founded “Mėgėjai”, which – over five decades later – is still Lithuania’s most successful amateur film studio.

THE GAMBLER / LOŠĖJAS

Drama / Thriller, 109′, LT / LV, 2013

Director: Ignas Jonynas
Screenwriter: Kristupas Sabolius, Ignas Jonynas
Director of Photography: Janis Eglitis
Editor: Stasys Žak
Producer: Uljana Kim
Co-Producer: Roberts Vinovskis
Executive Producer: Kristijonas Puipa
Production Designer: Nerijus Narmontas
Original Music By The Bus
Sound Director / Sound Designer: Artūras Pugačiauskas
Costume Designer: Aušra Kleizaitė
Contact: Wide Management
Actors: Vytautas Kaniušonis, Oona Mekas, Romuald Lavrynovič, Valerijus Jevsejevas, Lukas Keršys, Jonas Vaitkus, Artūras Šablauskas, Simonas Lindešis

Vincentas is the best employee at the ER, and he loves to gamble. Being in constant need of money, he starts a macabre game: betting on the death of his patients. Soon enough it kicks off and spreads like wildfire. When the stakes get too high, choices between love, life and death have to be made.

Awards:
Silver Crane Awards 2014 – Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor (Vytautas Kaniušonis), Best Composer, Best Production Design
Warsaw FF 2013 – Special Jury Mention

Trailer:
https://vimeo.com/74385604

Website:
http://losejas.lt

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TheGambler.Losejas

THE LOVELY SAVAGES / LAUKINIAI

Mockumentary / Queer, 11′, LT, 2015

Director / Screenwriter / Editor: Vygantas Bachmackij
Director of Photography: Martynas Matuliavičius
Sound: Gabrielė Griciūtė
Producer: Viktorija Astrauskaitė
Contact: Vygantas Bachmackij (bach.vygantas [at] gmail.com)
Protagonists: Martynas Matuliavičius, Mindaugas Jankauskas, Santa Juknaitė, Ričardas Petrauskas, Evelina Jocytė

While shooting a film about an artist, a romantic filmmaker becomes the main character in his own movie.

THE MORNING AFTER / RYTAIS

Drama, 17’, LT / USA, 2016

Director: Irma Pužauskaitė
Screenwriter: Eglė Vertelytė
Story: Eglė Vertelytė, Irma Pužauskaitė
Director of Photography: Mark Mannschreck
Production Designer: Sarah Cole
Editors: Irma Pužauskaitė, Tomas Vengris, Vladas Litvinas
Composer: Domas Strupinskas
Producers: Lukas Trimonis, Mike Sitnikov
Contact: Violeta Draseikaite (violeta [at] inscript.lt)
Main Actors: Katie Wallack, Stacey Danger, Michael Finn

When Emma returns distraught with no memory of what happened the night before, her sister Megan tries to help her – yet the truth is more than she can handle.

Award:
California Women’s FF 2016 – Best Supporting Actress (Stacey Danger)

Website:
http://themorningafter.inscript.lt

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/themorningafterla/

THE SUMMER OF SANGAILĖ / SANGAILĖS VASARA

Drama / Coming of Age / Queer, 88′, LT / FR / NL, 2015

Director, Screenwriter: Alantė Kavaitė
Director of Photography: Dominique Colin
Editor: Joëlle Hache
Composer: Jean-Benoît Dunckel
Production Designer: Ramūnas Rastauskas
Costume Designer: Neringa Keršulytė
Producers: Živilė Gallego, Antoine Simkine
Co-Producer: Marleen Slot
Production: Fralita Films, Les Films d’Antoine, Viking Film
Contact: Films Distribution
Main Actors: Julija Steponaitytė, Aistė Diržiūtė, Jūratė Sodytė, Martynas Budraitis

17-year-old Sangailė is afraid of heights, yet fascinated by stunt planes. In the summer she meets Austė, who is her exact opposite and lives her life with creativity and daring. Their exciting friendship encourages Sangailė to face her own fairs and boundaries.

Awards:
Sundance FF 2015 – Best Director
Silver Crane Awards 2015 – Best Film, Best Actress (Julija Steponaitytė), Best Production Design
Stockholm FF 2015 – Best Actress (Julija Steponaitytė)
Athens IFF 2015 – Best Director
Art FF 2015 : Best Film

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZEZ9_3CkJ4

Website:
http://fralitafilms.com/sangaile_en.html

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/SANGAILE/

THE TROLLEYBUS MAN / ŽMOGUS VIELABRAUKIS

Superhero Drama / Comedy / Fantasy, 15′, LT / EST, 2016

Director: Jonas Trukanas
Screenwriters: Barbora Pankė, Jonas Trukanas
Director of Photography: Meelis Veeremets
Editor: Dominykas Kilčiauskas
Art Director: Paulius Jurevičius
Composers: Andrius Kauklys, Marius Narbutis
Producers: Monika Sakalauskaitė, Gabija Siurbytė
Production: Dansu Films
Co-Production: Nafta Films
Contact: Gabija Siurbytė (dansufilms [at] dansu.eu)
Main Actors: Vytautas Kupšys, Šarūnas Datenis, Gabija Siurbytė

The trolleybuses in Vilnius are replaced by high-tech pilotless iTrolleys. The mechanic Viktoras decides to do something about it, and becomes a superhero of the working class.

Trailer:
https://vimeo.com/149158025

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TheTrolleybusMan

THE VICTORY OF AMUSEMENT / SPEKTAKLIO PERGALĖ

Documentary, 15′, LT, 2013

Director: Vytautas Tinteris
Director of Photography: Martins Vilnitis
Editor: Liva Kalnina, Vytautas Tinteris
Sound Designer: Daniel Picon
Music: Arturas Bumšteinas
Producer: Unė Liandzbergytė
Contact: Vytautas Tinteris (vytautas.t [at] gmail.com)

This documentary chronicles the transformation of Vilnius’s cinemas into commercial venues after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It becomes an appeal for a revival of film education in Lithuania.

THERE ARE NO TULIPS / TULPIŲ NĖRA

Drama, 20′, LT, 2016

Director: Ieva Šakalytė
Screenwriter: Irena Kunevičiūtė, Ieva Šakalytė
Director of Photography: Martynas Norvaišas
Producer: Gertrūda Gulbinaitė
Contact: Ieva Šakalytė (ieva.sakalyte [at] gmail.com)
Actors: Eglė Ancevičiūtė, Aidas Barkauskas, Danutė Serapinienė, Jurga Kalvaitytė, Lukas Malinauskas, Eimantas Pakalka, Jovita Balčiūnaitė, Martynas Vaidotas

Kristina is not happy. Still, she believes her self-help class will bring a better future, until she realizes that real change calls for bigger steps…

Trailer:
https://vimeo.com/180475485

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/therearenotulips/

TO VENEZUELA / Į VENESUELĄ

Music Video / Adventure, 5′, LT, 2015

Director: Saulius Baradinskas
Director of Photography: Vytautas Katkus
Sound Designer: Aivaras Žydelis
Label: M.P.3. Shownet
Producer: Viktorija Seniut
Contact: Saulius Baradinskas (sauliusbaradinskas [at] gmail.com)
Actors / The Band: Martynas Enčius, Juozas Baužys, Antanas Ruzgas, Karolis Bitlas, Artūras Bulkinas

The vibrant music video by “Antikvariniai Kašpirovskio dantys” tells the epic story of the fallen dreams of a man in flight.

Awards:
M.A.M.A. Awards  – Best Music Video
Kino Pavasaris IFF 20016 – Best Music Video (Audience Award)

WHAT’S YOUR EMERGENCY / GAUTAS IŠKVIETIMAS

Black Comedy / Mockumentary, 83′, LT, 2016

Director: Tadas Vidmantas
Screenwriter: Tadas Vidmantas, Jonas Navickas
Director of Photography: Ronaldas Buožis
Producer: Ieva Černiauskaitė, Rokas Vabalas, Deividas Misiulis
Contact: Rokas Vabalas, Vabalo filmai
Actors: Ineta Stasiulytė Timūras Augucevičius, Leonardas Pobedonoscevas, Ramūnas Cicėnas, Ineta Stasiulytė, Marius Repšys, Giedrė Giedraitytė, Marijonas Mikutavičius, Rafailas Karpis, Jolanta Leonavičiūtė, Arūnas Sakalauskas, Rimantė Valiukaitė, Mantas Katleris, Algis Ramanauskas

A glimpse into the turbulent and colorful daily life of a police station in Vilnius. One day lay-offs are announced. While dealing with the uncertainties of their personal futures, the officers continue saving people in need in the midst of challenging emergencies.

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epeKR0IitIc

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/gautas.iskvietimas

WOODS / MIŠKAS

Animation / Fantasy, 12’, LT, 2015

Director / Animator / Script Writer / Editor: Ignas Meilūnas
Director of Photography: Simonas Glinskis
Production Designer: Antanas Dubra
Sound Designer: Julius Girgelionis
Composer: Vytautas Leistrumas
Producer: Kristina Ramanauskaitė, Ingrida Kolytė-Stašinskė, Ignas Meilūnas, Ramojus Petrauskas, Aurimas Pukevičius
Production: WRKS, Čiobreliai
Co-Production: Čiobreliai & Technarium
Contact: Kristina Ramanauskaitė (kristina [at] ridea.lt)
Actor: Norvydas Birulis

For his exclusive collection a hermit scientist seeks to catch a mythical creature that lives in the forest and glows in the dark. He constructs a trap but soon gets into trouble himself.

Awards:
Silver Crane 2015 – Best Animation
Eko FF 2016 – Main Prize

Trailer:
https://vimeo.com/117796802

CONCERT “WITHOUT LETTERS”

October 7, 2016, 10 pm at Urban Spree

One of the most promising Lithuanian electro bands, “Without Letters“, will perform their electronic inspired, guitar-driven music at a vibrant live show.

The five-piece band “Without Letters” (members: Jonas Denapas, Tomas Narkevičius, Adomas Narkevičius, Artūras Barkus, Karolis Valiauga) gained an international audience with their extraordinary, mostly instrumental music which is inspired by different genres like techno, post-rock and krautrock, resulting in a distinct, modern sound which combines their musical roots in guitar- driven indie rock with danceable electronic influences. Formed in 2008, when they were still in high school, the group developed into one of the best electronic bands in the Baltics. With their strong live shows, they convinced audience and critics at some of the most important Baltic musical events like the Positivus Festival (Latvia) and the Tallinn Music Week (Estonia) as well as outside Northern Europe at The Great Escape Festival (UK).
In 2014, the band released their first vinyl debut, the “Self-titled” EP, after having released several songs online in the years before. The band was nominated in the categories “Alternative“ and “Newcomer of the Year“ at the Lithuanian Music Award M.A.M.A in 2015. On September 28, “Without Letters” will release their new EP “Unfollow”.

OPENING PARTY WITH DJs TACTIC SIGNALS, ARCANE ONDE & RUGILĖ

October 7, 12am at Urban Spree

The exciting sounds of Berlin and Vilnius meet, you can look forward to thrilling DJ sets with techno, synthesizer music, hip hop & tribal sounds!

TACTIC SIGNALS

Tactic Signals is a collaboration of two DJs & producers from Vilnius and Berlin – DJ JM & Tuan:Anh. They play in clubs around the world and perform monthly radio shows on London’s Radar Radio. Being influenced by hip hop and tribal sounds, they however never bind to one genre or style, making their DJ sets an always exciting new journey.
https://soundcloud.com/tactic-signals

ARCANE ONDE

A selection of mesmeric synthesizer music from different ages, including a lot of d.i.y productions and unreleased works. Geistlich für den Geist et arcane undae.
www.soundcloud.com/andreanoce

RUGILĖ

Young in age, but reckless in style, Rugilė delivers better than DHL with an psychodelic approach to EBM, synthronized electro and weirdos internacionales. Rugilė makes your high momentum closer to feeling uplifted and illuminated.
https://soundcloud.com/rug1le

EXHIBITION “STORYBOARD OF SPOTS” & “REMINISCENCES ABOUT LOST TIMES”

Opening on October 8, 6pm, Sputnik Kinobar

The selection of graphic designs “Storyboard of Spots” by Mantas Povilaika emphasizes the strength and originality of Lithuania’s visual arts and explores the narrative quality of compositions that dots and lines can have.

Film program “Reminiscences About Lost Times” (in loop):
Anthology of the Plot/Suokalbio antologija (Documentary, D: Artūras Jevdokimovas, 26′, LT, 2015)
The Victory of Amusement/Spektaklio pergalė (Documentary, D: Vytautas Tinteris, 15′, LT, 2013)

TALK “THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL: THE GAME OF LIFE AND DEATH IN IGNAS JONYNAS’S FILM ‘THE GAMBLER’” BY KRISTUPAS SABOLIUS (free admission)

October 9, 2016, 1 pm at Sputnik Kino

Renowned Lithuanian writer, philosopher and screenplay author Kristupas Sabolius will give a talk titled “The Winner Takes It All: The Game of Life and Death in Ignas Jonynas’s Film ‘The Gambler’”. The drama was the Lithuanian entry for the category Best Foreign Language Film of the 87th Academy Awards® and was very well-received in Lithuania by audience and critics alike. In 2014 it received five awards at the Lithuanian Film Award “Sidabrinės gervės“ (“Silver Crane“).

The Gambler” tells a story about a ER doctor who starts to gamble on the death of his patients. Vincentas, the main character of this film, is a hybrid person. He belongs to the two conflicting systems. Balancing between death and life at work and trying to pay back his debts, he creates a game based on human life. Thus, the world-view of the post-Soviet conformist and the capitalist winner converge. This is an explosive mix for any moral system.

This film is an attempt to understand what happens when one such human-gambler is placed in a borderline situation, confronting life and death. With only a slight change of coordinates, passion for life turns into lust for death. Or is it the same? After all, Freud had something like this in mind talking about Todestrieb.

Vincentas is the man that is steered by post-apocalyptic morale – for him the world has already collapsed, so all that remains is to play the game for the last time. Thus the banal phrase “Life is a game” becomes its own ironic paraphrase: “Death is also a game”.

http://losejas.lt