"Slow" presents us a deep dive into how asexuals see relationships with non-asexuals and also with themselves. It also asks interesting questions not only about asexuality, but about romantic and sexual relationships in general. One of the main themes of this film is showing how difficult yet significant it is to know what we need in such relationships and how to communicate that with your partner. That is exactly why I think "Slow" deserves our attention, because it shows important aspects of modern relationships - that we haven't seen portrayed in cinema before (asexuality) - in a beautiful and intimate matter and how loving someone is sometimes not enough. I must also highlight the acting performances of the two protagonists, that really carry us through this story gorgeously.
10 Reviews
Ways of love
cmbxx21 January 2024
If you have had or have a love with someone who is asexual or erotophobic, it is a great movie to share.
I wish I could have seen it at the beginning of the relationship, it helps a lot to understand what feelings and thoughts are going through both parties.
Dovydas played by Kestutis Cicena and Elena played by Greta Grineviciute do a great job.
Marija Kavtaradze tells a story that is unconventional in everyday life and complex to understand for the rest if you have not experienced or lived it.
I have missed some good moments during the film to visualize the true, pure and real love they experience. But overall good script.
I wish I could have seen it at the beginning of the relationship, it helps a lot to understand what feelings and thoughts are going through both parties.
Dovydas played by Kestutis Cicena and Elena played by Greta Grineviciute do a great job.
Marija Kavtaradze tells a story that is unconventional in everyday life and complex to understand for the rest if you have not experienced or lived it.
I have missed some good moments during the film to visualize the true, pure and real love they experience. But overall good script.
Movie about others and also about yourself
Filmoon23 September 2023
A great acting duo. The movie about others and also about yourself. Slow and fast, it makes you think about the questions left behind. Only after the end of the movie I finally understood why the movie started like that. Pros: realistic, lively, visually beautiful, good soundtrack, the movie allows you to see a different relationship with different points of view and their choices. Small cons: details, maybe more dialogues, were sometimes too artificial (for example, talking with other actors).
I have seen both movies from this great director. This one is different and has much more power in small things.
I have seen both movies from this great director. This one is different and has much more power in small things.
Although predictable, Marija Kavtaradze offers an interesting tale about exploring love.
chenp-5470829 January 2023
Saw this back at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival
"Slow" is a story about Dancer Elena and sign language interpreter Dovydas meet and form a beautiful bond. As they dive into a new relationship, they must navigate how to build their own kind of intimacy. There are many romance stories that follow this similar structure and it tends to become very predictable with each move the story decides to go. Despite it's familiar, the film still works because director Marija Kavtaradze was able to take a different approach with the story and creates an interesting and realistic story about love with interesting characters. The camerawork, sound design and production is really good as the presentation reminds me a lot of The Worst Person in the World in a good way.
Many of the performances were really good as the two main lead have perfect chemistry between each other which helps to make the characters feel nature and interesting throughout. Character study films are really interesting as it provides an guide to understand how the human life works throughout many lens. "Slow" does have it's flaws as some of the pacing moments could be improved and the narrative does fall a bit uneven halfway as certain aspects didn't feel fully fleshed out or understand where it wants to go. Some of the supporting characters felt they could have been written a little better since they felt like they were just there and didn't offer too much impact to the film.
Overall, it's a simple yet effective romance story and I did enjoy it quite a lot.
Rating: B+
"Slow" is a story about Dancer Elena and sign language interpreter Dovydas meet and form a beautiful bond. As they dive into a new relationship, they must navigate how to build their own kind of intimacy. There are many romance stories that follow this similar structure and it tends to become very predictable with each move the story decides to go. Despite it's familiar, the film still works because director Marija Kavtaradze was able to take a different approach with the story and creates an interesting and realistic story about love with interesting characters. The camerawork, sound design and production is really good as the presentation reminds me a lot of The Worst Person in the World in a good way.
Many of the performances were really good as the two main lead have perfect chemistry between each other which helps to make the characters feel nature and interesting throughout. Character study films are really interesting as it provides an guide to understand how the human life works throughout many lens. "Slow" does have it's flaws as some of the pacing moments could be improved and the narrative does fall a bit uneven halfway as certain aspects didn't feel fully fleshed out or understand where it wants to go. Some of the supporting characters felt they could have been written a little better since they felt like they were just there and didn't offer too much impact to the film.
Overall, it's a simple yet effective romance story and I did enjoy it quite a lot.
Rating: B+
I think people are missing a point.
onet-6120128 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
While the movie explores asexuality, it's ultimately about how relationships work now.
I believe the whole point of the movie is shown in the first scene, where we see random two people having sex, we learn that they just met, but the guy asks the girl to tell him she loves him. She is uncomfortable but does so... I believe, we are failing hard as a society. At this point, none of the genders enjoy these flings, but how dare we ask for connection or emotions? Thats too intimate, while sex is just exercise (it's not, we just do not have any other way to get desired validation).
As the movie progresses, we see how two leads fall in love and we fall in love with them, it's cute, funny, and wholesome. However, one is asexual, and while this is the main issue, it's not a point, again, the point is that we are so used to sexual validation from different sexes, that lack of sex, even when there are feelings and emotions, makes us feel unwanted. (at least for me)
In one scene, the girl tells the boy that she misses being wanted, "truly wanted", and we see it makes the male lead feel kinda off, cause he also wants her, just not as a sex partner. This is ultimately what you get in the era of online dating.
I honestly loved both of the main leads a lot. For the girl, you see where her insecurities come from (mother, lol), and you see why she needs validation (it's very subtle, she tries to cover it well).
As for the boy, he is pretty much perfect, except that they are not sexually compatible, lol.
In retrospect, it made me think, that this director painted us a perfect guy in everything except sex, making you realize how shallow we have become as a society and how absurd our dating culture is. And when did we become so fixated on sex that we forgot how to connect with people on an emotional level?
I get it, maybe these themes are not as fresh, especially since we are literally living in this reality, but the movie is very personal, and it's told beautifully. As a woman in her twenties, it was all too real and relatable.
Huge thanks to the director and cast. They did an amazing job and you can see even despite the low budget they poured their heart and soul into this.
I believe the whole point of the movie is shown in the first scene, where we see random two people having sex, we learn that they just met, but the guy asks the girl to tell him she loves him. She is uncomfortable but does so... I believe, we are failing hard as a society. At this point, none of the genders enjoy these flings, but how dare we ask for connection or emotions? Thats too intimate, while sex is just exercise (it's not, we just do not have any other way to get desired validation).
As the movie progresses, we see how two leads fall in love and we fall in love with them, it's cute, funny, and wholesome. However, one is asexual, and while this is the main issue, it's not a point, again, the point is that we are so used to sexual validation from different sexes, that lack of sex, even when there are feelings and emotions, makes us feel unwanted. (at least for me)
In one scene, the girl tells the boy that she misses being wanted, "truly wanted", and we see it makes the male lead feel kinda off, cause he also wants her, just not as a sex partner. This is ultimately what you get in the era of online dating.
I honestly loved both of the main leads a lot. For the girl, you see where her insecurities come from (mother, lol), and you see why she needs validation (it's very subtle, she tries to cover it well).
As for the boy, he is pretty much perfect, except that they are not sexually compatible, lol.
In retrospect, it made me think, that this director painted us a perfect guy in everything except sex, making you realize how shallow we have become as a society and how absurd our dating culture is. And when did we become so fixated on sex that we forgot how to connect with people on an emotional level?
I get it, maybe these themes are not as fresh, especially since we are literally living in this reality, but the movie is very personal, and it's told beautifully. As a woman in her twenties, it was all too real and relatable.
Huge thanks to the director and cast. They did an amazing job and you can see even despite the low budget they poured their heart and soul into this.
Subtle, unique and beautiful
martinpersson9710 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This stellar Lithauan drama, by a great director, is their admission to the Oscars - which you can clearly understand when you watch this masterpiece.
It is a subtle, small scaled film - very uniquely told and with a wonderful script, playing on just the right enotions. Sadness, melancholy, drama and humour. All very authentic, incredibly well acted and a beautiful range. The actors all do an incredible job for sure. Truly career defining.
The cinematography, cutting and editing is stellar - deliberately small scaled, adding to the tone, and featuring some stellar imagery. Very beautifully put together.
Overall, truly a masterpiece in every sense of the word, and one of the best films of the year.
Very much recommended for any lover of film!
It is a subtle, small scaled film - very uniquely told and with a wonderful script, playing on just the right enotions. Sadness, melancholy, drama and humour. All very authentic, incredibly well acted and a beautiful range. The actors all do an incredible job for sure. Truly career defining.
The cinematography, cutting and editing is stellar - deliberately small scaled, adding to the tone, and featuring some stellar imagery. Very beautifully put together.
Overall, truly a masterpiece in every sense of the word, and one of the best films of the year.
Very much recommended for any lover of film!
in profound sense, beautiful
Kirpianuscus24 March 2024
It is very strange to define it because each verdict sounds very subjectiv.
A dancer and and a sign language interpreter meets for a task of job. But their relation becomes more profound . And complicated, him being asexual, she being passioned by...life.
The easy thing is to appreciate the acting, both , Greta Grineviciute and Kestutis Cicena being just great.
Second, to applause the story ( and music ) reminding few Soviet films from the last 1980 decade, defined, like Slow, by well suggested melancholia. Because it is not so pleasant story to understand - feel the relation between main characters , relation based by honest definition of vulnerability.
For me, just a profound beautiful movie , especially for sweet- bitter air and for fair portraits of ordinary people in complicated relation of love.
A dancer and and a sign language interpreter meets for a task of job. But their relation becomes more profound . And complicated, him being asexual, she being passioned by...life.
The easy thing is to appreciate the acting, both , Greta Grineviciute and Kestutis Cicena being just great.
Second, to applause the story ( and music ) reminding few Soviet films from the last 1980 decade, defined, like Slow, by well suggested melancholia. Because it is not so pleasant story to understand - feel the relation between main characters , relation based by honest definition of vulnerability.
For me, just a profound beautiful movie , especially for sweet- bitter air and for fair portraits of ordinary people in complicated relation of love.
What's love (all) about?
sandraknezevic-3626830 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
The film left me heartbroken in search of what really true love is? What does it take to make a relationship work? Do we all have different values and why do in the end we all want to be craved? Why is that a bigger priority than someone who we have a beautiful bond with, even love. Guess we all want to have it all, and not feel guilty about it. It did make me question my own relationships and what is it I search in them.
A beautiful film, the cinepatography is breathtaking, the actors are sublime. There is real chemistry between them.
The movie kept my focus throughout. The stories are all so beautifully conected. It is a true masterpiece of european cinema.
A beautiful film, the cinepatography is breathtaking, the actors are sublime. There is real chemistry between them.
The movie kept my focus throughout. The stories are all so beautifully conected. It is a true masterpiece of european cinema.
A perfect example of Lithuanian slow cinema syndrome
BriedisLT25 September 2023
Approaching "Slow" or "Tu man nieko neprimeni" as a Lithuanian, I had hoped for a step forward in our film industry. Regrettably, this film succumbs to the same issues that often plague Lithuanian cinema: protracted scenes that contribute little to the narrative and an overemphasis on mundane everyday life moments. This film could have easily shed a significant portion of its runtime and still conveyed its intended message effectively.
While the film's underlying theme of asexuality held promise, it often deviates off course with superfluous dance sequences, peculiar moments like the main character Dovydas eating a sandwich or a McDonald's burger for no apparent reason, and awkward English interjections in Lithuanian dialogue. These numerous diversions detract from the film's primary theme and overall potential.
Admittedly, there were some commendable moments, such as the endearing portrayal of the two main characters engaging in the seemingly mundane task of hanging laundry. For me, this touching scene stands out amid the film's shortcomings. Nonetheless, these fleeting highlights fail to outweigh the movie's overall drawbacks.
I remain hopeful that Lithuanian cinema will rise above its stagnation and embrace more concise and impactful storytelling. However, "Slow" is a disappointing step in the wrong direction.
While the film's underlying theme of asexuality held promise, it often deviates off course with superfluous dance sequences, peculiar moments like the main character Dovydas eating a sandwich or a McDonald's burger for no apparent reason, and awkward English interjections in Lithuanian dialogue. These numerous diversions detract from the film's primary theme and overall potential.
Admittedly, there were some commendable moments, such as the endearing portrayal of the two main characters engaging in the seemingly mundane task of hanging laundry. For me, this touching scene stands out amid the film's shortcomings. Nonetheless, these fleeting highlights fail to outweigh the movie's overall drawbacks.
I remain hopeful that Lithuanian cinema will rise above its stagnation and embrace more concise and impactful storytelling. However, "Slow" is a disappointing step in the wrong direction.
Mediocrity.
sandraMiciuda23 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Lets cut to the chase. The movie isn't good. It's extremely annoying and every character speaks in a very unnatural tone and manner. It's comes across as very pretentious with its themes too. They are showing a very interesting asexual character, but without going into detail with his story they just stay on Elena and her little tantrums over the fact that he doesn't want to have sex with her. And that happens a lot in the film, to the point where my eyes were rolling. Her character's dialogue was extremely cringey and everytime she was arguing she made no sense, therefore, making me feel like the script was just plain bad. The saving grace of this film was Dovydas played by Kestutis Cicenas. He was funny and the whole time i was waiting for his story to unravel and i wanted to know more about what his character is feeling, but it's just never shown. Overall the movie is extremely mediocre so don't bother, there are better films about relationships.
Ps. The camera work was great, it's shot in film, it's give out a nice and intimate vibe which I didn't hate.
Ps. The camera work was great, it's shot in film, it's give out a nice and intimate vibe which I didn't hate.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
