Nova Lituania is a 2019 Lithuanian film directed and written by Karolis Kaupinis. The black-and-white drama film deals with inter-war paranoia, nationalism and the identity crises of the nations occupied by the former USSR. The film was inspired by a real-life Lithuanian interwar political theorist Kazys Pakštas and his works on Dausuva.
| Nova Lituania | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Karolis Kaupinis |
| Produced by | Marija Razgutė |
| Starring | Aleksas Kazanavičius |
| Cinematography | Simonas Glinskis |
Production company | M-Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | Lithuania |
| Language | Lithuanian |
It was selected as the Lithuanian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Oscar Academy Awards .[1]
Synopsis
editDuring the interwar period, Feliksas Gruodis, a Lithuanian geography professor played by Aleksas Kazanavicius, tries to convince the government to establish a backup state overseas, in order to save their country from ruin. However, the idea is mostly mocked and opposed. Still, there is hope in the secret support from the elderly prime minister, portrayed by Vaidotas Martinaitis. The men debate who they should save – others or themselves?[2]
Cast
edit- Aleksas Kazanavičius as Feliksas Gruodis
- Vaidotas Martinaitis as Prime Minister Jonas Servus
- Valentinas Masalskis as President Juozapas Palionis
- Rasa Samuolyte as Veronika Gruodis
- Roberta Sirgedaite as Julyte
- Egle Gabrenaite as Veronika's Mother, Kotryna
- Julius Zalakevicius as General Svegzda
- Vidmantas Fijalkauskas as Dean of the Faculty
- Algirdas Dainavicius as Feliksas' Colleague
- Darius Meskauskas as Simonavicius, Head of the Press Agency
- Paulius Pinigis as Lieutenant Cesnulevicius
- Kiril Glusajev as Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Ridas Jasiulionis as Antanas
- Matas Dirgincius as Student I
- Povilas Jatkevicius as Student II
- Diana Aneviciute as Post Office Employee
- Indre Patkauskaite as Secretary Elena
- Valentinas Krulikovskis as Journalist
- Laima Akstinaite as Secretary Ona
- Valdas Latonas as Prime Minister Kunigas
- Egle Mikulionyte as Servus' Wife
- Rusne Savickaite as Servus' Daughter
- Kestutis Stasys Jakstas as Director of the Military School
- Mindaugas Bundza as Government Employee
- Mykolas Drunga as Employee (voice)
Production
editNova Lituania is the first feature film by Karolis Kaupinis and the third collaboration with producer Marija Razgutė (M-films) after the short films The Noisemaker in 2013 and Watchkeeping in 2017.[3][4] The film is inspired by the life of interwar Lithuanian political theorist Kazys Pakštas and his work on Dausuva, the theoretical plan to create an alternative Lithuania to resist a possible invasion scenario.[5][6] It has long been derided in Lithuanian culture. A popular post-war Lithuanian film, Adam Wants to be a Man (directed by Vytautas Zalakevicius, 1959/Adomas Nori Būti Žmogumi), parodies him as an atypical castaway from another century.[7]
Karolis Kaupinis became interested in Kazys Pakštas after seeing the modern play Madagascar by Marius Ivaškevičius, which recounts the life of the theorist. He then decided to treat this Lithuanian historical figure in a post-modern way, mixing fictional elements with historical facts.[8]
Reception
editThe film was generally very well received by critics. It received a 3.4/5 star rating on the Letterboxd based on 1108 votes from Internet users and 66% positive reviews based on 900 votes on the IMDB.[9][10]
Accolades
edit
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipients | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens International Film Festival 2019[11] | 2019 | Best Picture Award | Simonas Glinskis | Won |
| Cairo International Film Festival 2019[12] | 2019 | Best Film Nomination | Karolis Kaupinis | Nominated |
| Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2019[13] | 2019 | International Competition | Karolis Kaupinis | Selected |
| Lithuanian Filmmakers Association Prize 2020[14] | 2020 | Best Cinematography Award | Simonas Glinskis | Won |
| Black Movie Festival Geneva 2020 | 2020 | Audience Award Nomination | Karolis Kaupinis | Nominated |
| Vilnius International Film Festival (Kino pavasaris) 2020[15] | 2020 | Best Film Award | Karolis Kaupinis | Nominated |
| 2020 | InEuropa | Karolis Kaupinis | Won | |
| Lithuanian Film Academy Awards "Silver Crane" 2020[16] | 2020 | Best Film 2020 | Karolis Kaupinis | Won |
| 2020 | Best Director | Karolis Kaupinis | Won | |
| 2020 | Best Editing | Silvija Vilkaite | Selected | |
| 2020 | Best Sound | Julius Grigelionis | Selected | |
| 2020 | Best Supporting Actress | Egle Gabrenaite | Won | |
| 2020 | Best Actor | Aleksas Kazanavicius | Selected | |
| 2020 | Best Screenplay | Karolis Kaupinis | Selected | |
| 2020 | Best Supporting Actor | Vaidotas Martinaitis | Won | |
| 2020 | Best Art Direction | Audrius Dumikas | Won | |
| Oscars' 93rd Academy Awards 2020[17] | 2020 | Best International Feature Film | Karolis Kaupinis | Selected |
| Lithuanian Film Academy National Awards 2021[18] | 2021 | Best Screenplay Award | Karolis Kaupinis | Won |
| 2021 | Best Cinematography Award | Simonas Glinskis | Won | |
| 2021 | Best Costume Design Award | Monika Vebraite | Won | |
| 2021 | Best Supporting Actor Award | Vaidotas Martinaitis | Won | |
| 2021 | Best Supporting Actress Award | Egle Gabrenaite | Won | |
| 2021 | Best Film Award | Karolis Kaupinis | Won | |
| 2021 | Best Set Design Award | Audrius Dumikas | Won | |
| 2021 | Best Director Award | Karolis Kaupinis | Won | |
| 2021 | Best Make-up and Hairstyling Award | Jurgita Globyte | Won |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Lithuania picks Nova Lituania for foreign-language Oscar nomination". LRT. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ "Nova Lituania review – we've got to get out of here". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ "Karolis Kaupinis". Le Groupe Ouest (in French). Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "Karolis Kaupinis | Director, Writer, Actor". IMDb. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "Kazio Pakšto takais – ieškoti atsarginės Lietuvos". Bernardinai.lt (in Lithuanian). 5 March 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "Filmo „Nova Lituania" režisierius K.Kaupinis: apie tragišką herojų K.Pakštą ir istorijos pamokas šiandienai". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "Setting up a back-up Lithuania. Reimagining future past with Nova Lituania". lrt.lt. 16 January 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ Gleichgewicht, Daniel (8 January 2021). "Reimagining futures past: on Nova Lituania". New Eastern Europe. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ Nova Lituania (2019) - External reviews - IMDb, retrieved 13 September 2023
- ^ Nova Lituania (2019), retrieved 13 September 2023
- ^ "Another victory: Lithuanian movie wins best film award at Athens festival". Delfi EN (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "Nova Lituania - Square Eyes". Nova Lituania - Square Eyes. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "KVIFF | Nova Lituania". www.kviff.com. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "Ąžuolai 2020". LAC. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "Film "Nova Lituania" directed by Karolis Kaupinis won InEuropa award in Vilnius Film Festival "Kino pavasaris"". NPA | Independent Producers Association of Lithuania. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "Lithuanian Film Awards (2023)". IMDb. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "European titles submitted for the Oscars race". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "National Lithuania Film Awards (2021)". IMDb. Retrieved 13 September 2023.