Nova Lituania

Nova Lituania
Film poster
Directed byKarolis Kaupinis
Produced byMarija Razgutė
StarringAleksas Kazanavičius
CinematographySimonas Glinskis
Production
company
M-Films
Release dates
  • 30 June 2019 (2019-06-30) (KVIFF)
  • 26 June 2020 (2020-06-26) (Lithuania)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryLithuania
LanguageLithuanian

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 .[1]

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. The men debate who they should save – others or themselves?[2]

Cast

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.[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

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.[9][10]

Accolades

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

References

  1. ^ "Lithuania picks Nova Lituania for foreign-language Oscar nomination". LRT. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Nova Lituania review – we've got to get out of here". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Karolis Kaupinis". Le Groupe Ouest (in French). Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Karolis Kaupinis | Director, Writer, Actor". IMDb. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Kazio Pakšto takais – ieškoti atsarginės Lietuvos". Bernardinai.lt (in Lithuanian). 5 March 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Filmo „Nova Lituania" režisierius K.Kaupinis: apie tragišką herojų K.Pakštą ir istorijos pamokas šiandienai". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Setting up a back-up Lithuania. Reimagining future past with Nova Lituania". lrt.lt. 16 January 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  8. ^ Gleichgewicht, Daniel (8 January 2021). "Reimagining futures past: on Nova Lituania". New Eastern Europe. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  9. ^ Nova Lituania (2019) - External reviews - IMDb, retrieved 13 September 2023
  10. ^ Nova Lituania (2019), retrieved 13 September 2023
  11. ^ "Another victory: Lithuanian movie wins best film award at Athens festival". Delfi EN (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Nova Lituania - Square Eyes". Nova Lituania - Square Eyes. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  13. ^ "KVIFF | Nova Lituania". www.kviff.com. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Ąžuolai 2020". LAC. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ "Lithuanian Film Awards (2023)". IMDb. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  17. ^ "European titles submitted for the Oscars race". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  18. ^ "National Lithuania Film Awards (2021)". IMDb. Retrieved 13 September 2023.