# 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 Kazanavičius, 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 Samuolytė as Veronika Gruodis
* Roberta Sirgedaitė as Julyte
* Eglė Gabrėnaitė as Veronika's Mother, Kotryna
* Julius Žalakevičius as General Svegzda
* Vidmantas Fijalkauskas as Dean of the Faculty
* Algirdas Dainavičius as Feliksas' Colleague
* Darius Meškauskas as Simonavicius, Head of the Press Agency
* Paulius Pinigis as Lieutenant Cesnulevicius
* Kiril Glušajev as Minister of Foreign Affairs
* Ridas Jasiulionis as Antanas
* Matas Dirginčius as Student I
* Povilas Jatkevičius as Student II
* Diana Anevičiutė as Post Office Employee
* Indrė Patkauskaitė as Secretary Elena
* Valentinas Krulikovskis as Journalist
* Laima Akstinaitė as Secretary Ona
* Valdas Latonas as Prime Minister Kunigas
* Eglė Mikulionytė as Servus' Wife
* Rusnė Savickaitė as Servus' Daughter
* Kęstutis Stasys Jakštas 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 Žalakevičius, 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

| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipients | Result |
| Athens International Film Festival 2019 | 2019 | Best Picture Award | Simonas Glinskis | Won |
| Cairo International Film Festival 2019 | 2019 | Best Film Nomination | Karolis Kaupinis | Nominated |
| Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2019 | 2019 | International Competition | Karolis Kaupinis | Selected |
| Lithuanian Filmmakers Association Prize 2020 | 2020 | Best Cinematography Award | Simonas Glinskis | Won |
| Black Movie Festival Geneva 2020 | 2020 | Audience Award Nomination | Karolis Kaupinis | Nominated |
| Vilnius International Film Festival (Kino pavasaris) 2020 | 2020 | Best Film Award | Karolis Kaupinis | Nominated |
| Vilnius International Film Festival (Kino pavasaris) 2020 | 2020 | InEuropa | Karolis Kaupinis | Won |
| Lithuanian Film Academy Awards "Silver Crane" 2020 | 2020 | Best Film 2020 | Karolis Kaupinis | Won |
| Lithuanian Film Academy Awards "Silver Crane" 2020 | 2020 | Best Director | Karolis Kaupinis | Won |
| Lithuanian Film Academy Awards "Silver Crane" 2020 | 2020 | Best Editing | Silvija Vilkaite | Selected |
| Lithuanian Film Academy Awards "Silver Crane" 2020 | 2020 | Best Sound | Julius Grigelionis | Selected |
| Lithuanian Film Academy Awards "Silver Crane" 2020 | 2020 | Best Supporting Actress | Egle Gabrenaite | Won |
| Lithuanian Film Academy Awards "Silver Crane" 2020 | 2020 | Best Actor | Aleksas Kazanavicius | Selected |
| Lithuanian Film Academy Awards "Silver Crane" 2020 | 2020 | Best Screenplay | Karolis Kaupinis | Selected |
| Lithuanian Film Academy Awards "Silver Crane" 2020 | 2020 | Best Supporting Actor | Vaidotas Martinaitis | Won |
| Lithuanian Film Academy Awards "Silver Crane" 2020 | 2020 | Best Art Direction | Audrius Dumikas | Won |
| Oscars' 93rd Academy Awards 2020 | 2020 | Best International Feature Film | Karolis Kaupinis | Selected |
| Lithuanian Film Academy National Awards 2021 | 2021 | Best Screenplay Award | Karolis Kaupinis | Won |
| Lithuanian Film Academy National Awards 2021 | 2021 | Best Cinematography Award | Simonas Glinskis | Won |
| Lithuanian Film Academy National Awards 2021 | 2021 | Best Costume Design Award | Monika Vebraite | Won |
| Lithuanian Film Academy National Awards 2021 | 2021 | Best Supporting Actor Award | Vaidotas Martinaitis | Won |
| Lithuanian Film Academy National Awards 2021 | 2021 | Best Supporting Actress Award | Egle Gabrenaite | Won |
| Lithuanian Film Academy National Awards 2021 | 2021 | Best Film Award | Karolis Kaupinis | Won |
| Lithuanian Film Academy National Awards 2021 | 2021 | Best Set Design Award | Audrius Dumikas | Won |
| Lithuanian Film Academy National Awards 2021 | 2021 | Best Director Award | Karolis Kaupinis | Won |
| Lithuanian Film Academy National Awards 2021 | 2021 | Best Make-up and Hairstyling Award | Jurgita Globyte | Won |