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.
It was selected as the Lithuanian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Oscar Academy Awards .
Synopsis During the interwar period, Feliksas Gruodis, a Lithuanian geography professor played by Aleksas Kazanavičius, 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?
Cast Aleksas Kazanavičius as Feliksas Gruodis Vaidotas Martinaitis as Prime Minister Jonas Servus Valentinas Masalskis as President Juozapas Palionis Rasa Samuolytė as Veronika Gruodis Roberta Sirgedaitė as Julyte Eglė Gabrėnaitė as Veronika's Mother, Kotryna Julius Žalakevičius as General Svegzda Vidmantas Fijalkauskas as Dean of the Faculty Algirdas Dainavičius as Feliksas' Colleague Darius Meškauskas as Simonavicius, Head of the Press Agency Paulius Pinigis as Lieutenant Cesnulevicius Kiril Glušajev as Minister of Foreign Affairs Ridas Jasiulionis as Antanas Matas Dirginčius as Student I Povilas Jatkevičius as Student II Diana Anevičiutė as Post Office Employee Indrė Patkauskaitė as Secretary Elena Valentinas Krulikovskis as Journalist Laima Akstinaitė as Secretary Ona Valdas Latonas as Prime Minister Kunigas Eglė Mikulionytė as Servus' Wife Rusnė Savickaitė as Servus' Daughter Kęstutis Stasys Jakštas as Director of the Military School Mindaugas Bundza as Government Employee Mykolas Drunga as Employee (voice)
Production Nova 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. 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. It has long been derided in Lithuanian culture. A popular post-war Lithuanian film, Adam Wants to be a Man (directed by Vytautas Žalakevičius, 1959/Adomas Nori Būti Žmogumi), parodies him as an atypical castaway from another century.
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.
Reception The 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.
Accolades
+AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipientsResultAthens International Film Festival 20192019Best Picture AwardSimonas GlinskisWonCairo International Film Festival 20192019Best Film NominationKarolis KaupinisNominatedKarlovy Vary International Film Festival 20192019International CompetitionKarolis KaupinisSelectedLithuanian Filmmakers Association Prize 20202020Best Cinematography AwardSimonas GlinskisWonBlack Movie Festival Geneva 20202020Audience Award NominationKarolis KaupinisNominatedVilnius International Film Festival (Kino pavasaris) 20202020Best Film AwardKarolis KaupinisNominated2020InEuropaKarolis KaupinisWonLithuanian Film Academy Awards "Silver Crane" 20202020Best Film 2020Karolis KaupinisWon2020Best DirectorKarolis KaupinisWon2020Best EditingSilvija VilkaiteSelected2020Best SoundJulius GrigelionisSelected2020Best Supporting ActressEgle GabrenaiteWon2020Best ActorAleksas KazanaviciusSelected2020Best ScreenplayKarolis KaupinisSelected2020Best Supporting ActorVaidotas MartinaitisWon2020Best Art DirectionAudrius DumikasWonOscars' 93rd Academy Awards 20202020Best International Feature FilmKarolis KaupinisSelectedLithuanian Film Academy National Awards 20212021Best Screenplay AwardKarolis KaupinisWon2021Best Cinematography AwardSimonas GlinskisWon2021Best Costume Design AwardMonika VebraiteWon2021Best Supporting Actor AwardVaidotas MartinaitisWon2021Best Supporting Actress AwardEgle GabrenaiteWon2021Best Film AwardKarolis KaupinisWon2021Best Set Design AwardAudrius DumikasWon2021Best Director AwardKarolis KaupinisWon2021Best Make-up and Hairstyling AwardJurgita GlobyteWon
See also List of submissions to the 93rd Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film List of Lithuanian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
References
External links