How to Get Divorced During a War, which had its world premiere at Sundance on Monday, has released its first trailer (below). New Europe Film Sales is handling worldwide sales.
The film, written and directed by Andrius Blazevicius, is set in Vilnius, Lithuania in 2022. High-profile executive Marija chooses the worst possible moment to have an honest conversation with her husband Vitas about divorce – just the day before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine begins in earnest. The couple must now navigate the separation process while facing refugees and a midlife crisis.
Vitas, a struggling film director, is initially forced into a predicament when he is forced to live with his Russian parents, whose worldview is completely at odds with his own. However, over time, he volunteers at a food bank and finds new purpose and fame through anti-war performance art, and this new situation becomes an opportunity to open new doors.
For Mariya, the grass is not as green on the other side as she initially hoped, and the conflict between her desires and morality leaves her frustrated and lonely. While he tries to make himself feel better by helping refugees, he also finds a small sense of satisfaction when he experiences a culture clash with the Ukrainian family he hosts in their luxurious apartment. Maybe living a boring but stable life with Vitas wasn’t so bad after all?
The cast is led by Zygimante Elena Jagstaite and Marius Lepsis.
The producer is Marija Razgutė of M-Films in Lithuania. Co-producers are Vincent Quénault and Jeanne Geiben of Red Lion, Jessie Fisk of Feline Films, and Jakub Kostal and Vratislav Šlajer of Bionaut.
Blazevicius’ debut feature film The Saint (2016) premiered at the Warsaw Film Festival and Busan, won six national awards, and became one of the most successful Lithuanian films at the local box office. His second film, The Runner (2021), premiered in Karlovy Vary, and its lead actress Zygimante Elena Jagstaite was chosen as the Shooting Star of the European Film Promotion. The Runner won two Lithuanian Film Academy Awards for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.
