Nova Lituania

1938. While the young Lithuanian state celebrates twenty years of independence, the situation in Europe is becoming increasingly tense, and a new war looms on the horizon. Geographer Feliksas Gruodis comes up with a creative solution to the situation: He proposes creating a “backup Lithuania” overseas, a place where the country’s inhabitants could move in case of danger. All he needs is support for his novel idea from the political elite… Working with carefully composed black-and-white shots, debuting director Karolis Kaupinis has recast this original idea into a gripping drama, whose protagonist tries to implement a utopian plan for saving his country while facing the slow breakdown of his marriage. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)