Kā šķirties kara laikā screening at Riga IFF
Selected for the main competition at the Riga International Film Festival (Riga IFF), the Lithuanian feature film Kā šķirties kara laikā (How to Divorce During a War) arrives following a director’s directing award at the Sundance Film Festival and selection as Lithuania’s submission for the Academy Awards, Kino Raksti reported. The film has traveled to approximately 20 film festivals, exploring the intersection of geopolitical crisis and personal domestic breakdown.
Andrius Blaževičius directs a 12-year marriage crisis
Directed by Andrius Blaževičius, the film follows a married couple of 12 years, Marija and Vitautas, whose relationship unravels just as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine begins. The main characters are portrayed by the same actors from Blaževičius’s 2021 film Runner, Žigimantė Elena Jakštaite and Marius Repšys. Marija is an ambitious top manager in a large company who provides financial stability, while Vitautas is a former film director who currently manages household duties and childcare.
European partners join production after early rejections
Production on the film took place following script development that began in the spring of 2022. While initial project support was not secured in Latvia, Luxembourg, Ireland, and the Czech Republic joined as project partners. Blaževičius noted that although he initially thought the war would end before the film’s release, the persistent geopolitical tension keeps the themes sharply relevant.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kā šķirties kara laikā
Which international film festival awarded the film’s direction?
The film received a directing award at the Sundance Film Festival before its screening at Riga IFF.
Who stars as the main couple in the feature?
Actors Žigimantė Elena Jakštaite and Marius Repšys star as Marija and Vitautas, reprising their collaborative working relationship with director Andrius Blaževičius following their roles in the 2021 film Runner.
Which countries partnered on the production of the film?
Luxembourg, Ireland, and the Czech Republic served as project partners after financial support was not secured in Latvia.
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