doors open at 20:00 * intro & film start at 20:30

NOVA LITUANIA *  98 minutes * In Lithuanian with English subtitles

Finally a film from Lithuania, in black-and-white and based on true events, even if they do seem a bit surreal. The story is kind of hard to believe, but when you think about the situation in 1938 when this took place, it does make sense, no matter how absurd it is. Nazi Germany was growing in territory and strength; war was in the air, with Russia preparing to battle the Nazi threat. And indeed Lithuania is one of the countries prone to being invaded, in fact it already is – a large part of the country including the capital city, Vilnius, has been occupied by the Polish for years already. And that's the reason why the story takes place in the country's secondary capital city of Kaunas.

In preparation for the expected German invasion, a geography professor concocts a salvation scheme that he pitches to big-shot politicians and the mainstream media. His plan is as megalomaniac as anything that was coming out of the fascist camp, or let's be honest, as megalomaniac as anything we see big tech do today. The professor's proposals leave everyone even more startled than they already were by the imminent threat of a deadly invasion.

Although the movie is a kind of comedy, it doesn't wear its jokes on its sleeve… It all unfolds in a deadpan, even serious manner - after all, it is a true story. Therefore it's not expressionist or sensationalistic, everything is more minimalist. The cinematography feels illuminated and terrifyingly sparse, glowing in an old-fashioned way. This is a strange snapshot of a forgotten event in history brought to life with craft; with a calm, caring intelligence, and a kind of poetic reverence.