This week, a film about the relentless creator’s need to create even amid the looming threat of a Third World War, inspired by the director’s own experiences and creative desire, will be released in Lithuanian cinemas.
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Creativity Against the Backdrop of Threat
“The idea for the film was born when I myself was overwhelmed by the thought that I must create something now and kept trying to force myself to come up with something. Eventually, I wondered: why am I so obsessed with the desire to create art when the world around me is living through such turbulent times, and I can only think about how to make a film? This internal conflict began to grow inside me,” recalls the Belarusian director.
“In 2022, talks about nuclear war started circulating – it was said that Russia might use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. At that time, I was still living in Belarus, going to bars and parties, and thoughts about atomic war would also come up there. I felt a huge contrast – people gather to relax and have fun in the context of such alarming news. Feeling the clash of these two worlds, I decided to make a film about that feeling and the desire to create despite everything,” recalls J. Semaško.
In 2022, talks about nuclear war started circulating – it was said that Russia might use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
In the tragicomic drama “Teodoras Ozieravas’s Swan Song,” there are only a few days left until the New Year, the atmosphere is filled with the premonition of a Third World War, and the 25-year-old musician Teodoras Ozieravas is determined to form a band and write new songs. However, his plans are disrupted by the disappearance of his favorite sweater, which Teodoras considers the source of his creative power. To get it back, the musician embarks on an unexpected journey.
This first feature film by J. Semaško had its world premiere at the prestigious Berlin Film Festival, competed in the “Forum” program, and won the “Tagesspiegel” newspaper readers’ jury award. Lithuanians also significantly contributed to the film’s creation, and colleagues from Germany helped complete and present it at festivals.
Being a Creator in Belarus
J. Semaško left Belarus in 2022 as repression against cultural figures intensified and many cultural institutions were declared extremist by the regime. “The situation in the country became essentially impossible for a creator – only the state film studio remained, producing propaganda films. Even before that, independent filmmakers received no funding, so I had retreated underground – making short films on my own, without a budget. I couldn’t even mention the political situation in the films – I would have been arrested,” the director says.
I couldn’t even mention the political situation in the films – I would have been arrested.
So J. Semaško moved to Poland. “I decided to see how it would go. My short films started participating in European festivals, and I saw that I had chances.
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And after the success of “Teodoras Ozieravas’s Swan Song” at the Berlin Film Festival, I no longer have the possibility to return to Belarus – security services are watching everything, and according to them, I have done forbidden things. I could end up in prison just for working with exiled Belarusian actors who were politically active in our country.”
I could end up in prison just for working with exiled Belarusian actors who were politically active in our country.
It is also dangerous for Belarusian creators to participate in international cinema-related events, so after the film’s premiere at the Berlin Film Festival, the director applied for international protection in Poland and is still awaiting a decision.
“Independent Belarusian films are rare, almost nonexistent. Therefore, Belarusians living in Warsaw eagerly contributed to the film – everyone wanted to be part of such a rare project. I made this film, as I did before in Belarus, almost without a budget, so we were lucky that some people came to this project on their own, unexpectedly – everything fell into place for it to happen,” the director says.
Asked if Belarusians have hope that the situation in their country will change, J. Semaško dreams cautiously. “I am 33 years old and have never seen a democratic Belarus in my life. However, there is hope, although it is small today. Watching the news right now, I see no positive trends at all. But maybe someday democratic changes will happen, and we will again be able to at least safely visit our families.”
The tragicomic drama “Teodoras Ozieravas’s Swan Song” can be seen from this Friday, and from September 2-7, the main actors Viachaslau Kmit and Violetta Rahachova will travel through Lithuanian cinemas and interact with audiences.
This joint Lithuanian and German production was produced by the Lithuanian company “Artbox” (prod. Kęstutis Drazdauskas) together with “Singo” (prod. Leonid Kalitenya), and the German post-production studio “Shoot’N’Post” (prod. Marc-Daniel Dichant and Christian Riegel) helped complete it. The film’s distribution was partially funded by the Lithuanian Film Centre.
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