Special screening at Kai Cinema: "vesna"

Genre: Drama
Run time: 1 h 41 min
Country: Lithuania, France, Estonia
Director: Rostislav Kirpichenko
Cast: Kęstutis Cicėnas, Valentinas Novopolskij, Anastasiia Pustovit, Bartas Ždanovičius, Martynas Dovydas Kukta, Šarūnas Datenis
Language: Ukrainian
Subtitles: Estonian, English

The screening will be followed by a conversation with the film’s Estonian co-producer Vitali Šeremetjev (ESSE House) and Heiki Luts (FrostFilms). The conversation will be held in English.

In a town in occupied south-eastern Ukraine, where burying the dead is forbidden, the church of young priest Andrii has been turned into a morgue for executed Ukrainian civilians. As the occupation tightens its grip, Andrii begins a quiet resistance, secretly returning the bodies to their families at the risk of his own life. Along the way, he forms an unexpected bond with 11-year-old Makarov, who becomes the silent witness to his resistance. The true-life events behind this gripping drama may not surprise those enduring a full-scale war that seems to have no end, but they may shock those who still choose to ignore it.

Lithuanian-born Ukrainian director Rostislav Kirpichenko exposes the cynicism and brutal cruelty of the aggressors. The locals are forced to choose: to hold out a little longer, to adapt little by little, to resist, to obey, to collaborate, or even to betray others. The film’s greatest impact comes from the heartbreaking authenticity with which it shows how Ukrainians survive under occupation.

“Vesna” premiered in the Special Screenings section of the Cannes Film Festival’s official selection and was selected for the Baltic Competition at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF). The film is a co-production between Lithuania, France and Estonia. The music was composed by Estonian composer Sten Sheripov, and the visual effects (VFX) were created by Heiki Luts (FrostFilms).

Distributor: ESSE House

We also invite everyone to visit “Island Beyond the Sea”, a solo exhibition by acclaimed artist Jane Jin Kaisen at Kai Art Center. A captivating journey through seven films leads deep into Korean traditions and history. This is the first time Kaisen’s work is shown in the Baltic states.

When visiting both the exhibition and a cinema screening on the same day, a combined ticket costs €15 (concession €10). The gallery is open until 6 pm, so with a combined ticket, please visit the exhibition before the screening begins.