Drowning Dry

Drowning Dry
Theatrical release poster
LithuanianSesės
Directed byLaurynas Bareiša
Produced byKlementina Remeikaitė
Starring
  • Gelmine Glemzaite
  • Agne Kaktaite
  • Giedrius Kiela
  • Paulius Markevicius
CinematographyLaurynas Bareiša
Edited bySilvija Vilkaitė
Production
company
Afterschool Production
Release date
Running time
88 minutes
CountriesLithuania
Latvia
LanguageLithuanian

Drowning Dry (Lithuanian: Sesės, lit. 'Sisters') is a 2024 Lithuanian-Latvian drama film written and directed by Laurynas Bareiša starring Gelmine Glemzaite, Agne Kaktaite, Giedrius Kiela, and Paulius Markevicius. The film premiered at the 77th Locarno Film Festival, where Bareiša received the Best Direction Award while the film's principal cast was recognized with the Best Performance Award.[1] It was selected as Lithuanian's entry for 97th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film, but was not nominated.[2]

Premise

Ernesta and her sister Juste gather at a lakeside cabin for a weekend getaway with their husbands (Lukas and Tomas, respectively) and children. The vacation takes a dark turn when Juste's daughter falls into the lake, unable to swim to safety. Details about the accident and its aftermath are revealed in a series of flashbacks as the family tries to move on from the tragedy.[3]

Cast

  • Gelmine Glemzaite as Ernesta
  • Paulius Markevicius as Lukas, Ernesta's husband
  • Agne Kaktaite as Juste, Ernesta's sister
  • Giedrius Kiela as Tomas, Juste's husband

Production

Laurynas Bareiša wrote, directed, and served as cinematographer for Drowning Dry, which was produced through his company Afterschool Production. In developing the script, Bareiša consulted with medical professionals to learn more about dry drowning.[4]

Release

Ensemble members Paulius Markevičius, Agnė Kaktaitė, Giedrius Kiela, und Gelminė Glemžaitė at the 77th Locarno Film Festival

Drowning Dry premiered on 10 August 2024 in the Concorso Internazionale section of the Locarno Film Festival.[1]

Reception

Accolades

Award Ceremony date Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Locarno Film Festival 17 August 2024 Golden Leopard Drowning Dry Nominated [1]
Best Direction Award Laurynas Bareiša Won [1]
Best Performance Award Gelminė Glemžaitė, Agnė Kaktaitė, Giedrius Kiela, Paulius Markevičius Won [1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Drowning Dry". Locarno Film Festival. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  2. ^ "International Oscar Race: Lithuania Selects Locarno Award Winner 'Drowning Dry'". Vareity.
  3. ^ Mintzer, Jordan. "'Drowning Dry' Review: A Penetrating Lithuanian Drama Depicts a Family Tragedy Through Multiple Fragments". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  4. ^ Szalai, Georg. "Why 'Drowning Dry' Director Laurynas Bareisa Told Actors Not to Land Jokes and Has Hope for Cinema as a "Place of Freedom"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 19 August 2024.