It’s a national cinema that we barely mention here on the site, but Lithuania has received some big praise treatment by opening and winning at Sundance, and by having its international premiere in Berlin. In the perfect fairytale continuation of events, The Summer of Sangaile has found a smooching partner in the Strand Releasing folks. Variety reports that Best Director award winner Alanté Kavaïté‘s sophomore picture will show in the U.S. No release date has been announced.
Gist: The coming-of-age romance tale turns on Sangaile (Julija Steponaityte), a 17-year-old fascinated by stunt planes who meets another girl, Auste (Aiste Dirziute), while attending a summer aeronautical show near her parents’ lakeside villa. As the two girls grow closer and fall in love, Sangaile allows Auste, a free-spirited and vibrant young woman, to discover her most intimate secret, and finds in her the only person who truly encourages her to fly.
Worth Noting: Kavaïté studied Beaux Arts in Avignon and in Paris, where she specialized in photography and video. Starring Émilie Dequenne (Dardenne Bros.’ Rosetta), her debut film Ecoute le Temps (Fissures), was released in France back in 2007. See trailer below.
Do We Care?: Our Nicholas Bell wasn’t swooned over by the proceedings, mentioning that there is “nothing innovative or subtle in this adolescent’s journey to spreading her wings and, literally, flying high.”
