Press Release

Director Šarūnas Bartas’ film Lagoon will be presented to the global audience in the prestigious Venice Film Festival’s independent program Giornate degli Autori, in the Special Events selection. This is an intimate documentary essay dedicated to the memory of the director’s daughter, Ina Marija Bartaitė.

In Lagoon, Š. Bartas, together with his youngest daughter Una Marija Bartaitė, travels to Mexico, to the Ventanilla lagoon on the Pacific coast – the place where Ina Marija spent her last vacation with her father. Living among the local community and feeling the rhythm of the surrounding nature, father and daughter once again reflect on loss and the fragility of life.

“I could divide my life into two parts. The first – before the death of my dearest daughter, the second – after she was no longer with us. It’s understandable that there were sincere thoughts of ending everything. For several years, I was connected to this world by a barely visible thread, thin as a string. However, thanks to the efforts of my loved ones and ultimately my own, I did not break that thread. With the help of my youngest daughter Una Marija, I managed to find a new beginning and to continue doing what I have done my entire life – unconditionally and openly showing people my emotions, how I see, hear, and feel the world around me. I managed to come back,” says director Š. Bartas.

*”The production of this film required truly enormous effort – both physically and emotionally. Working in tropical conditions, in the jungle, amidst hurricanes, rains, and earthquakes, was a challenge in itself. But creating a film born out of personal pain was even more difficult.

I sincerely thank the entire filming and production team, the community of Santa Maria Tonameca, our relatives, partners, and sponsors – everyone who was by our side, accompanied us on this journey, and helped turn it into a film,”* says producer Alina Lu.

Giornate degli Autori is an independent program of the Venice Film Festival, inspired by the Directors’ Fortnight of the Cannes Film Festival, and dedicated to filmmakers whose work stands out for its personal vision, courage, and authentic artistic expression. Special Events presents films by acclaimed filmmakers that address contemporary humans, their relationship with the world, and with themselves.

Š. Bartas is no stranger to the Venice Film Festival. In 1998, he was invited to be a member of the main competition jury. The jury was chaired by Italian director Ettore Scola and included Kathryn Bigelow and Tilda Swinton.

In 2000, Š. Bartas returned with his film Freedom, which competed in the festival’s main competition of the 57th edition and was in the running for the Golden Lion. The film was also awarded the CinemAvvenire Prize.