Nova Lituania

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.

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.