Nova Lituania Explained

Nova Lituania
Director:Karolis Kaupinis
Producer:Marija Razgutė
Starring:Aleksas Kazanavičius
Cinematography:Simonas Glinskis
Studio:M-Films
Runtime:96 minutes
Country:Lithuania
Language:Lithuanian

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.

Accolades

!Award!Date of ceremony!Category!Recipients!Result
Athens International Film Festival 2019[9] 2019Best Picture AwardSimonas GlinskisWon
Cairo International Film Festival 2019[10] 2019Best Film NominationKarolis KaupinisNominated
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2019[11] 2019International CompetitionKarolis KaupinisSelected
Lithuanian Filmmakers Association Prize 2020[12] 2020Best Cinematography AwardSimonas GlinskisWon
Black Movie Festival Geneva 20202020Audience Award NominationKarolis KaupinisNominated
Vilnius International Film Festival (Kino pavasaris) 2020[13] 2020Best Film AwardKarolis KaupinisNominated
2020InEuropaKarolis KaupinisWon
Lithuanian Film Academy Awards "Silver Crane" 2020[14] 2020Best Film 2020Karolis KaupinisWon
2020Best DirectorKarolis KaupinisWon
2020Best EditingSilvija VilkaiteSelected
2020Best SoundJulius GrigelionisSelected
2020Best Supporting ActressEgle GabrenaiteWon
2020Best ActorAleksas KazanaviciusSelected
2020Best ScreenplayKarolis KaupinisSelected
2020Best Supporting ActorVaidotas MartinaitisWon
2020Best Art DirectionAudrius DumikasWon
Oscars' 93rd Academy Awards 2020[15] 2020Best International Feature FilmKarolis KaupinisSelected
Lithuanian Film Academy National Awards 2021[16] 2021Best Screenplay AwardKarolis KaupinisWon
2021Best Cinematography AwardSimonas GlinskisWon
2021Best Costume Design AwardMonika VebraiteWon
2021Best Supporting Actor AwardVaidotas MartinaitisWon
2021Best Supporting Actress AwardEgle GabrenaiteWon
2021Best Film AwardKarolis KaupinisWon
2021Best Set Design AwardAudrius DumikasWon
2021Best Director AwardKarolis KaupinisWon
2021Best Make-up and Hairstyling AwardJurgita GlobyteWon

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lithuania picks Nova Lituania for foreign-language Oscar nomination . LRT . 17 November 2020 . 17 November 2020.
  2. Web site: Nova Lituania review – we've got to get out of here . The Guardian . 17 November 2020.
  3. Web site: Karolis Kaupinis . 2023-09-13 . Le Groupe Ouest . fr-FR.
  4. Web site: Karolis Kaupinis Director, Writer, Actor . 2023-09-13 . IMDb . en-US.
  5. Web site: 2015-03-05 . Kazio Pakšto takais – ieškoti atsarginės Lietuvos . 2023-09-13 . Bernardinai.lt . lt.
  6. Web site: Filmo „Nova Lituania“ režisierius K.Kaupinis: apie tragišką herojų K.Pakštą ir istorijos pamokas šiandienai . 2023-09-13 . 15min.lt . lt.
  7. Web site: 2021-01-16 . Setting up a back-up Lithuania. Reimagining future past with Nova Lituania . 2023-09-13 . lrt.lt . en.
  8. Web site: Gleichgewicht . Daniel . 2021-01-08 . Reimagining futures past: on Nova Lituania . 2023-09-13 . New Eastern Europe . en-GB.
  9. Web site: Another victory: Lithuanian movie wins best film award at Athens festival . 2023-09-13 . Delfi EN . lt.
  10. Web site: Nova Lituania - Square Eyes . 2023-09-13 . Nova Lituania - Square Eyes . en.
  11. Web site: KVIFF Nova Lituania . 2023-09-13 . www.kviff.com.
  12. Web site: Ąžuolai 2020 . 2023-09-13 . LAC . en-US.
  13. Web site: Film “Nova Lituania” directed by Karolis Kaupinis won InEuropa award in Vilnius Film Festival “Kino pavasaris” . 2023-09-13 . NPA Independent Producers Association of Lithuania . en-US.
  14. Web site: Lithuanian Film Awards (2023) . 2023-09-13 . IMDb . en.
  15. Web site: 2021-01-07 . European titles submitted for the Oscars race . 2023-09-13 . Cineuropa - the best of european cinema . en.
  16. Web site: National Lithuania Film Awards (2021) . 2023-09-13 . IMDb . en.

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