"Seses" (Drowning Dry) feels like a perfect example of everything wrong with Lithuanian cinema today. Once again, we're subjected to endless, pointless shots of people doing nothing-unloading groceries from a car back and forth, lying in bed, scrolling through their phones, and doing headstands for an eternity. This isn't artistic; it's lazy. The first half of this film is so mind-numbingly slow that I found myself checking the time more often than following the story - if there even was one.
Sure, the film tries to touch on real-life issues, but by the time those moments appear, it's hard to care. The pacing kills any potential it had. The acting, especially with the child actors, is clumsy - characters talk over each other in scenes that clearly weren't reshot. Were these seriously the best takes? It feels like no one bothered to try again, hoping the slow, 'artsy' atmosphere would cover up the lack of effort. But it doesn't.
The second half does improve slightly, but that's not saying much. Something actually happens then. If this is the direction Lithuanian cinema is still heading-prioritizing empty, indulgent shots over meaningful storytelling - it's no wonder audiences are left disengaged.
