Dievu miskas

One of the greatest directors of Lithuanian cinema - Algimantas Puipa. One of the greatest novels - "The Forest of Gods" by Lithuanian writer Balys Sruoga. One of the worst screenings ever.

A true story about a professor who struggled with the inhumanity of Nazi in one of their death camps (Stuthof). Irony was the only weapon he had. "I laugh a lot during hard moments. I am deeply ironic - not to the people I'm going to die with, but to the whole wide world." - wrote Balys Sruoga in a letter to his wife from Stuthof death camp in 1944. The novel is a masterpiece, however, the movie - far from it: unnatural dialogs, forced acting.

This film is based on a slightly fictionised autobiography and reflects it very well. It's very sad and haunting film, with many interpretational elements. Some scenes are very artistic too. It's a very good arty film.

The main problem with this film is the plodding pace. It's just so slow and long! For a war film, that's hard to accept. The historical context is interesting but this film did not do it as much justice as it deserves. There are moments that propel the plot and kept my interest but overall I would say this is a better sleeping aid than a film.

First thing: this movie "based on the novel". BASED on the novel. So all those, that downrate it, because the movie does not follow beloved book, should start to learn separating one media from another.

There are no synthesized emotions in this. Everything feels real, or at least as real as the emotions in the diary of someone that is waiting for his days to end in concentration camp.

The main advantage of Puipa's masterpiece is this: There is no prejudice, no-goodie-white-hoodie and no evil-bad-wolf-hanibal-lector type characters. Everyone is show as a human. You will not feel sympathy for guards or collaborators, but you will understand things like "why do such people rise in times like this" or even start thinking about reasons that could turn good people into animals. Director won't tell you what to feel! It's such a rare feature, that it is hard to understand this concept at first.

There is some black humor in this movie too. It's dark, noir even, although it's so true, that it feels close even if you can't connect to WWII in any way.

Subtle details, real-life philosophy, humour, rich characters, absolutely stunning camera work makes this movie one of the best. It's not a fairy tale as Shindler's list is: you wont feel guilty if you are not crying in the end and everyone will understand why are you weeping if you do.

First of all, the movie doesn't have the same spirit as a book. There were no such irony and satire.. Well, you can find some funny moments, but the book is MUCH better, no doubt.

If not comparing with a book, the movie is still not that good. It's too lengthy & gets boring at some moments.

Besides the concentration camp is shown like a simple jail. I expected it to be more cruel. Prisoners always have cigarettes, they don't seem like starving, warders don't look so sadistic & so on.

All in all, if you are Lithuanian, you should watch this movie. But if you're not - you probably just find it boring.