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.
It was selected as the Lithuanian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Oscar Academy Awards .
The film was inspired by a real-life Lithuanian interwar political theorist Kazys Pakštas and his works on Dausuva.
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?
Cast
Aleksas Kazanavičius as Feliksas Gruodis
Vaidotas Martinaitis 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 (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 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, 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