Summer Survivors (Lithuanian: Išgyventi vasarą) is a 2018 Lithuanian drama film written and directed by Marija Kavtaradzė.
It aims to portray mental illnesses, their impact on the lives of young adults, and their resilience.
The film had its world premiere on September 7, 2018, at the Toronto International Film Festival, its European premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival on November 22, 2018, and its Lithuanian premiere at the Vilnius International Film Festival (Kino Pavasaris) in April 2019.
Synopsis
An ambitious young research psychologist, Indrė, portrayed by Indrė Patkauskaitė, agrees to transport two patients, played by Gelminė Glemžaitė and Paulius Markevičius, from one psychiatric unit to another in exchange for research privileges at her clinic. She finds herself the leader of a rather rag-tag band on the long journey to the sea. Outgoing Paulius is a young man whose manic stage of his bipolar disorder stands in great contrast to the introvert Justė whose wounds are hidden from sight, but they both struggle to fight the inner battles that define them. As they all navigate the survival process together, what looks like a carefree summer ride with friends sharing laughs from the outside, could actually be the beginning of healing in this bittersweet story that — just like summer — is full of hopes, surprises and the promise that anything is possible.
Distribution
Indrė Patkauskaitė: Indrė Gelminė Glemžaitė: Justė Paulius Markevičius: Paulius Vilija Grigaitytė: Danguolė Giedrė Gudeikienė: Cafeteria Employee Giedrius Juršys: Nurse Adrija Čepaitė-Palšauskienė: Doctor Larisa Kalpokaitė: Doctor Jolanta Karolis Kaupinis: Doctor Danas Kavaliauskas: Automechanic's Son Tekle Kavtaradzė: Waitress Giedrius Kiela: Patient Ligita Kondrotaitė: Doctor Jurgis Marčėnas: Nurse Inga Maškarina: Patient Darius Meškauskas: Algis Lilija Milašienė: Austė's Mother Juozas Milašius: Austė's Father Robertas Narkus: Gas Station Attendant Šarūnas Puidokas: Automechanic Lina Rastokaitė: Nurse Inga Šepetkaitė: Young Woman at Gas Station Dovilė Šilkaitytė: Patient Agnė Sirgėdaitė: Palanga Waitress Julija Steponaityte: Julija Ieva Triskauskaitė: Austė Aldona Vilutytė: Doctor Donatas Želvys: Brother Laurynas Šarūnas Zenkevičius: Laughing Man
Production This film is the debut film written and directed by Marija Kavtaradzė.
This is the first collaboration between Marija Kavtaradzė, as a director and writer, and producer Marija Razgutė, following Kavtaradzė's co-writing on the film The Saint produced by M-Films.
Summer Survivors achieved 26k admissions in the Lithuanian box office, making it the most appreciated independent Lithuanian film in 2019.
Filming began on 24 August 2017, and ended on 25 September 2017.
Reception The film received generally positive reviews from both critics and audiences, with an average score of 7.5/10 based on over 1500 collected votes on the IMDb.
Accolades
+AwardDateCategoryRecipientsResultsLithuanian National Film Award 20212021Best ScreenplayMarija KavtaradzėNominated2021Best Supporting ActressVilija GrigaitytėNominated2021Public choiceMarija KavtaradzėWon2021Best ActorPaulius MarkevičiusNominated2021Best ActressIndrė PatkauskaitėNominated2021Best Film NominationMarija KavtaradzėNominated2021Best DirectorMarija KavtaradzėNominatedSilver Crane Lithuanian Film Award 20192019Best Film of 2019Marija KavtaradzėNominated2019Best Director NominationMarija KavtaradzėNominated2019Best ActressIndrė PatkauskaitėWon2019Best ActorPaulius MarkevičiusNominated2019Best Supporting ActressVilija GrigaitytėNominated2019Best Supporting ActorDarius MeškauskasNominated2019Best ScreenplayMarija KavtaradzėNominated2019Audience AwardMarija KavtaradzėNominatedVilnius International Film Festival 2019 - New Europe 2019Best Film AwardMarija KavtaradzėNominated2019Best ActorPaulius MarkevičiusWon2019Public AwardMarija KavtaradzėWonRiviera International Film Festival 20192019Best Film AwardMarija Kavtaradzė (Director) and Marija Razgutė (Producer)Won2019Best DirectorMarija KavtaradzėNominated2019Best ActressIndrė PatkauskaitėNominated2019Best ActorPaulius MarkevičiusNominatedLithuanian Association of Cinematographers (L.A.C)2019Best CinematographyRugilė Barzdžiukaitė and Laurynas BareišaNominatedInternational Film Festival Film by the Sea 20192019International Student Award for Best FilmMarija KavtaradzeNominatedAthena International Film Festival 20182018Best FilmMarija KavtaradzeNominated
References
External links Summer Survivors, programme of the Vilnius International Film Festival. Summer Survivors - teaser on YouTube (video, Lithuanian) Summer Survivors presskit