Loss (2008)
"Nereikalingi zmones" (original title)

Mentally ill young woman Valda convinces herself that a boy growing up in an orphanage is her child. Following the footsteps of a thousands Lithuanians, she immigrates to Ireland to earn money to save him. "Loss" portrays beauty and tragedy in the human heart.

Director:

Maris Martinsons

Writers:

Maris Martinsons, Raimondas Paskevicius

Stars:

Valda Bickute, Kostas Smoriginas, Dalia Micheleviciute

3 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Valda Bickute	...	Valda
Kostas Smoriginas	...	Ben
Dalia Micheleviciute	...	Nora
Andrius Mamontovas	...	Priest
Daiva Tamosiunaite	...	Laima
Gelmis Naujikas	...	Paul
Vitautas Rumshas	...	Barman
Gabija Jaraminaite	...	Nurse (as Gabija Ryskuviene)
Arvydas Dapsys	...	Doctor
Dalia Brenciute	...	Orphanage's director
Toma Vaskeviciute	...	Nora - young
Justas Tertelis	...	Ben - young
Sarunas Puidokas	...	Saver
Eleonora Korisnaite	...	Hotel owner
Regina Janina Kazlauskaite	...	Cleaning lady

Storyline

A Priest in Ireland meets a woman Valda from his native Lithuania only to find out her mysterious identity is closely connected with a darkest secret of his past. Desperate for a better life Valda left Lithuania for Ireland, hoping to find a new purpose in life but failed to fulfill a promise to come back she made to her son Paul. Now Paul is adopted by a childless Nora, ex-wife of the desperate businessman Ben, whose life is falling from his hands. Caught in a struggle with her husband's mistress Laima, she must fight not only for her firm but also for the custody of a child who now is her only hope in life. From acclaimed Latvian director Maris Martinsons comes a dramatic story developing in two countries, connected with each other by vast migration after the fall of Soviet Union, and six people whose destiny is bond in more than one way after tragic accident which happened more than two decades ago.

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Taglines:

If you can't change your past, change your future!

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Lithuania

Language:

Lithuanian English

Release Date:

11 January 2008 (Lithuania)

Also Known As:

Loss

Filming Locations:

Ireland

Company Credits

Production Co:

ART&A, Good Dog Films, Lithuanian Film Studio

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lithuania's 2009 Academy Awards official submission to Foreign-Language Film category.

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Soundtracks

"The Rose of"
Music and Lyrics traditional
Performed by Anne Jennings-Tauciene
Arranged by Andrius Mamontovas
Mixed and mastered by Arturas Pugaciauskas

User Reviews

Excellent Lithuanian movie

Another "must see" work from Maris Martinsons. Original title "Nereikalingi Zmones" (eng. Needless People). I like Maris Martinsons' style when plot crosses in many ways. All actors impressed me, in many cases the main negative thing in Lithuanian movies is unreal/bad acting, but not this time. It was very interesting to see singer Andrius Mamontovas (The Priest) as actor and in my opinion he did very good. Also I think this is the best role of Kostas Smoriginas (Alcoholic) of all time, maybe he was really drunk during movie? I am happy that Lithuanian cinema is not dead and this is the new beginning. By the way - "Nereikalingi Zmones" holds a new record as best start in Lithuania cinemas history already.