A Grandfather

synopsis

Quarantine with a politician – this is how one could describe the situation captured in the film A Grandfather. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the director continuously filmed his cohabitation with his own grandfather, the prominent conservative politician and former Lithuanian Prime Minister Vytautas Landsbergis. This observational film captures everyday life in their shared household, but mainly focuses on conversations between the two men, one of whom is recapping his career and the other is making a film, but is also a classical flute player. The result is a chronicle that blends everyday life, artistic expression, and statesmanlike declamation. In the quarantined isolation of both family members, the Lithuanian past is echoed in the recollections of Vytautas Sr. as he rummages through his old collection of notes, as is the COVID-19 present, which is announced on the television screen. The grandfather finally agrees to participate in a joint theatre performance combining music and political performance.

“By trying to explain it you ruined it. Just like in music. There was some nonsense: ‘explain how to understand music.‘ You can explain it. And you’d be ruining it. The essence.“

biography

Vytautas Oškinis (b. 1991) is a Lithuanian musician and filmmaker. He has played the flute since childhood and studied it at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. He is the author of the short documentary films Fierce Gods (2018), Commission (2019), and Alphonso (2020).

film details

director:	Vytautas Oškinis
producer:	Vytautas V. Landsbergis, Neringa Levansevičiūtė
photography:	Vytautas Oškinis
editing:	Vytautas Oškinis
sound:	Laurynas Kamarauskas