Director L. Bareiša about the film “Sisters”: each of us has had a summer like this Culture

As the premiere of the film approaches in Lithuania, L. Bareiša, who was awarded the best director award in Locarno, explained why the action takes place in the summer, how he managed to find an actor for the role of a martial arts fighter, what message the pop hits in the film carry and why it is important to him that the film does not have a short-term effect.

“It is important to me that something gets stuck in the viewer’s mind, that the film returns to everyday life, and that the cinema experience does not remain only a short-term effect. After all, cinema must enrich”, L. Bareiša has no doubts, calling “Sisters” the most personal film.

– What is the second feature film “Sisters” about for you?

– First of all, “Sisters” is about us, our emotions, jealousy, competition, unspoken feelings. About the events that ripple throughout life and must be accepted and reacted to. “Sisters” is like a mosaic that starts with a summer weekend and one moment changes everything irreversibly. It’s neither good nor bad, it’s just one of the ways we live.

I believe that every viewer will find their own access to this film and find moments that are close to them – both sensitive, and sad, and funny.

I tried to make a film that draws you in and comes back to you, even though the plot is kind of obvious. The unusual structure contributes to this, which makes the film even more impressive.

– Why did you choose this time of year – hot summer?

– I have the most memories from summer, especially from my childhood. The lake, water, swimming – probably not the only one I remember, it goes beyond the limits of individuality. These are collective memories that connect us all with invisible threads.

It’s the kind of time that seems like it will always matter, the moments that grow on you over generations. Inspired by these memories, we create relationships with other people, we feel love for others.

I wanted a space and time that was obvious and understandable, but at the same time transformed into something universal that transcended such memories. We’ve all experienced something in the summer. Such events that have remained in our memory, or events that might not have happened.

The reactions of the heroes are also close to us. Where there are more hidden feelings than open ones. Where you feel or intuit jealousy and competition, but you don’t broadcast it in any way, as is usual for us in life. Perhaps the most eloquent is the male dialogue, the essence of which the audience will understand only after seeing this scene.

– Ensemble of actors – Gelminė Glemžaitė, Agnė Kaktaitė, Paulius Markevičius, Giedrius Kiela to be evaluated as a leopard at the Locarno Festival. How did you manage to assemble such a talented team?

– The success of an ensemble of actors depends on their internal chemistry – if they don’t get along, nothing will work, the audience won’t believe. We started the selection with the most complex character of Juste, who is embodied by Agnė Kaktaitė. This is her debut in big cinema and it is definitely a success.

Then we were looking for a partner for Agnei who would suit her emotionally. Together with Marija Kavtaradze, with whom we started casting, we remembered Gelmina Glemžaitė. She starred in Maria’s film “Surviving the Summer”. We invited Agnė and Gelminė together, both actresses of Aida Giniotis’s course with similar theater experiences. We saw that the personalities came together wonderfully. Then we were looking for husbands for our sisters.

I fully trust Mr. Kiela since the “Pilgrims” days, so I immediately decided to contact him. He always tries to reveal and understand the character, questions the script, notices details that are not convincing.

The last character is an MMA fighter. We auditioned real fighters for this role, picked two, even rehearsed them. Great personalities, but it was clear that professional actors have a completely different rhythm. Everyone will have to agree with a non-professional actor. Then I remembered P. Markevičius, who was just free. So he spent that summer working out, eating a special diet and getting the look of an MMA fighter.

– In the movie “Sisters” we can hear popular music. What role does it play, what does it point to?

– This is a kind of memory from the MTV generation, when one channel was the main source of music. The songs played then just stuck in my head, like summer memories.

I confess to being a fan of Donna Lewis’ hit “I Love You Always Forever”. The artist became famous precisely because of this song and I wanted it to sound in the film. The sisters dance to the sounds of their childhood and created a bond that continues to this day. And kids listen to what’s popular now, like Jessica Shy. It is now an integral part of our culture.

– You have mentioned that it is important for you that the film returns. Would you remember a movie episode or dialogue the next day while washing dishes or riding a bike? Why?

– It’s important to me that something stays in your head after the movie. Then the time spent in the cinema will not be only momentary. Maybe this way connections between your memories will appear.

The pace of the film fluctuates: sometimes the action changes quickly, sometimes you stay longer. Like memories. We feel stuck in relationships, jobs, often in cycles of fear and anxiety that we can’t break, and the memories that remain can help you break out of that vicious circle.