Locarno award-winning director Laurynas Bareiša masterfully uses non-linear storytelling, repeating key scenes and changing the music in different dance sequences. The carefully executed moments draw you in, even as you’re left pondering the film’s deeper meaning long after the credits roll. With a clever twist, Bareiša gradually changes the meaning of each line and reaction, transforming what initially appears to be a light-hearted comedy into a gripping drama by the end.

The film’s premise is simple: sisters Ernesta and Justė, along with their husbands Lukas and Tomas, gather at their parents’ summer house, an hour away from the nearest medical centre. It’s been a while since they’ve all been together, and the children are delighted to be spending the last warm days by the lake. But an intense weekend soon unravels, thrusting both families into a radically altered reality where time is limited, and emotional puzzles must be solved amidst growing heartache.

Edvinas Pukšta