‘How to Divorce During the War’ Debuts Trailer as Film Premieres at Sundance (EXCLUSIVE)

“How to Divorce During the War,” which had its world premiere at Sundance on Monday, has debuted its trailer (below). New Europe Film Sales is handling world sales.

The film, written and directed by Andrius Blazevicius, is set in Vilnius, Lithuania in 2022. High-flying executive Marija chooses the worst possible moment for an honest conversation with her husband Vytas about divorcing – just one day before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine goes into full scale. Now the couple must navigate the process of separation as it collides with a refugee and mid-life crisis.

The struggling film director Vytas is initially put into a tight spot by having to move in with his Russophile parents, whose world view completely conflicts with his. With time, however, this new situation becomes an opportunity for a new opening for him as he volunteers in a food bank and finds new purpose and fame through anti-war performance art.

For Marija, the grass is not as green on the other side as she initially hoped and the conflict between her desires and her morality leave her frustrated and alone. When she tries to feel better by helping refugees, it also brings her little satisfaction when she experiences a culture clash with an Ukrainian family that she’s hosting in her fancy apartment. Maybe her life with the boring but stable Vytas wasn’t so bad after all?

The cast is led by Žygimantė Elena Jakštaitė and Marius Repšys.

The producer is Marija Razgutė at M-Films in Lithuania. The co-producers are Vincent Quénault and Jeanne Geiben at Red Lion, Jessie Fisk at Feline Films, and Jakub Kostal and Vratislav Šlajer at Bionaut.

Blaževičius’ debut feature film “The Saint” (2016) premiered at Warsaw Film Festival and Busan, won six national awards and became one of the most successful Lithuanian films at the local box office. His sophomore film “Runner” (2021) premiered at Karlovy Vary with the main actress Žygimantė Elena Jakštaitė being selected as a Shooting Star by European Film Promotion. “Runner” received two Lithuanian Film Academy Awards – for the main and the supporting actresses.