In-Person Screening: Friday, November 4, 8:15 pm

Virtual Screening: November 5-13

PILGRIMS (Piligrimai)
Laurynas Bareiša, Lithuania, 2021
92 minutes, In Lithuanian with English subtitles

Paulius (Giedrius Kiela) looks up Indrė (Gabija Bargailaitė) for an unusual request: to drive him back to the small town where Matas — his brother and her boyfriend — died. Unsure what to do with his pent-up emotions, Paulius hopes that this trip will bring about a change, in whatever form it may come. Though they haven't spoken in a while, Indrė agrees, particularly as an injury has left Paulius incapable of driving. But as the two walk through Matas’ final days, retracing his steps and meeting the people he saw, it is unclear whether the journey will make them feel better or worse.

A beautiful, tender meditation on suffering that links personal struggles with communal ones, Pilgrims has renewed urgency as we consider buried pains that have never come to light, and historical suffering that can suddenly feel fresh. Never overwhelming and with a deceptively simple approach, director Laurynas Bareiša confronts us to consider the nature of violence and closure. Pilgrims has been put forward as Lithuania's candidate for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.

Festival History
New Directors New Films, MoMA 2022
Vienna International Film Festival 2021
Thessaloniki International Film Festival 2021
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2021
Göteborg Film Festival 2022
Taipei Film Festival 2022

Awards History
Lithuania's Nomination for Best International Feature Film category for the 2023 Academy Awards
Venice Film Festival 2021 - Best Film, Horizons
Thessaloniki International Film Festival 2021 - Best Screenplay
Lithuanian Film Awards 2022 - Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay, Best Actor

Tags: Lithuania, Drama, Mental Health, Crime