Nova Lituania
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''Nova Lituania'' is a 2019
Lithuanian Lithuanian may refer to: * Lithuanians * Lithuanian language * The country of Lithuania * Grand Duchy of Lithuania * Culture of Lithuania * Lithuanian cuisine * Lithuanian Jews as often called "Lithuanians" (''Lita'im'' or ''Litvaks'') by other Jew ...
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 In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period lasted from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days), the end of the First World War to the beginning of the Second World War. The interwar period was relativel ...
political theorist Kazys Pakštas and his works on Dausuva. It was selected as the Lithuanian entry for the
Best International Feature Film The Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (known as Best Foreign Language Film prior to 2020) is one of the Academy Awards handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to ...
at the 93rd Oscar Academy Awards .


Synopsis

During 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 Vaidotas ( fl. 1362) was a son of Kęstutis, Grand Duke of Lithuania. In reliable historical sources he is mentioned only twice: as defender of Kaunas Castle in 1362 and as ruler of Navahrudak. Due to very limited information, his life is subject ...
. The men debate who they should save – others or themselves?


Cast

* Aleksas Kazanavičius as Feliksas Gruodis *
Vaidotas Martinaitis Vaidotas ( fl. 1362) was a son of Kęstutis, Grand Duke of Lithuania. In reliable historical sources he is mentioned only twice: as defender of Kaunas Castle in 1362 and as ruler of Navahrudak. Due to very limited information, his life is subject ...
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

''Nova Lituania'' is the first feature film by Karolis Kaupinis and the third collaboration with producer
Marija Razgutė Marija Razgutė (born 26 June 1985) is a Lithuanian film producer and the founder of the production company M-Films. Biography Marija Razgutė was born on 26 June 1985 in Klaipėda, Lithuania. She initially studied business management but l ...
(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 Lithuania (; lt, Lietuva ), officially the Republic of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Respublika, links=no ), is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. 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 Adam; el, Ἀδάμ, Adám; la, Adam is the name given in Genesis 1-5 to the first human. Beyond its use as the name of the first man, ''adam'' is also used in the Bible as a pronoun, individually as "a human" and in a collective sense as ...
'' (directed by Vytautas Zalakevicius, 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 Marius may refer to: People * Gaius Marius (157 BC-86 BC), Roman statesman, seven times consul. Arts and entertainment * ''Marius'' (play), a 1929 play by Marcel Pagnol * "Marius" (short story), a 1957 story by Poul Anderson * ''Marius'' (19 ...
, 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


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 Lithuania has submitted films for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film since 2006 . The award is handed out annually by the United States Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to a feature-length motion picture produced outs ...


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Nova Lituania 2019 films 2019 drama films Lithuanian drama films Lithuanian-language films