New Europe Film Sales has acquired “How to Divorce During the War,” the third feature by Lithuanian director Andrius Blaževičius, ahead of its world premiere in the Sundance Film Festival’s World Cinema Dramatic Competition.
New Europe described the film as “a sharp, emotionally resonant drama laced with irony.” It is “a portrait of a Europe caught between fear and denial, solidarity and fatigue, ideals and comfort.”
Set in Vilnius in 2022, it’s a story of a high-flying executive Marija, who chooses the worst possible moment for an honest conversation with her husband Vytas about divorcing – just one day before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine goes into full scale. Now the couple must navigate the process of separation as it collides with a refugee and mid-life crisis.
The film works both as a relationship drama and a war film and shows an ironic duality of the couple’s mid-life crisis and the life of the Ukrainian refugees in Vilnius. Everyday domestic situations carry an undercurrent of frustration and hidden violence, moments of chaos and absurdity coexist with heartbreak. The tension between Marija, Vytas, and their daughter Dovilė quietly reveals the aftershocks of both divorce and war.
The film’s creative team includes DP Narvydas Naujalis, editor Anna Johnson Ryndová, production designer Greta Vileikytė and composer Jakub Rataj. It is produced by Marija Razgute of M-Films (Lithuania), with co-producers Red Lion (Luxembourg), Feline Films (Ireland), and Bionaut (Czech Rep.).
The project participated in the New Nordic Films Co-Production Market and the Berlinale Co-Production Market.
Blaževičius previously gained international recognition with “The Saint” (Warsaw and Busan film festivals) and “Runner” (Karlovy Vary Film Festival).
New Europe’s head of acquisitions, Marcin Luczaj, said in a statement: “We’ve been struck and impressed with Andrius’ vision and the universe, which resonated with us closely. The film is blending an intimate relationship drama with the tension of a society under pressure, and strikes a rare tonal balance: emotionally raw yet sharply observant, contemporary yet universally relatable, tragic yet often darkly comedic.”
New Europe’s slate includes Dara van Dusen’s upcoming “A Prayer for the Dying,” starring Johnny Flynn and John C. Reilly, Jeremiah Zagar’s “The Painted Bride,” starring Jeremy Allen White, as well as two competitors for the international feature film Oscar – Hlynur Pálmason’s “The Love That Remains” (Iceland) and Laszlo Nemes’ “Orphan” (Hungary).
