The Small Confessions

Lithuania Focus 

Thursday 10.9. at 8:30 PM, Alō 

Fiction, 1971, Lithuania

Director: Algirdas Araminas
Duration: 80 min
Themes: Classic, Lithuania
Language: Lithuanian, English subtitles
Age rating: 12

18-year-old high school student Arūnas is living the pivotal moments of his life in the small seaside town of Klaipėda, Lithuania. He grows up surrounded by adults who are grappling with their own disappointments and unfulfilled dreams. His father bores Arūnas with his war stories. His mother suddenly leaves with Arūnas's younger brother to pursue her old dream and try her hand as an artist. A communist-supporting classmate informs on Arūnas, who is expelled from school just like his rebellious friend Benas before him. Arūnas drifts with Benas until he meets a woman named Rasa. 

The Small Confession (Maža išpažintis) is one of the most significant Lithuanian classics. It is a coming-of-age story set against the generational gap during a time when Lithuania's new rock generation collided with the post-war apathy and frustration in the Soviet republic.

The film is part of the Karhupuisto Film Festival's Lithuania Focus.

Other credits:

Starring: Andrius Karka, Gediminas Karka, Vytautas Kernagis
Screenplay: Algirdas Araminas, Icchokas Meras
Cinematography: Donatas Pečiūra
Editing: Mingaile Murmulaitienė
Music: Algimantas Apanavičius
Production Design: Algirdas Ničius
Sound Editing: Petras Lipeika