The River

Documentary filmmakers Julija Gruodienė and Rimantas Gruodis introduce us to a remote village somewhere in Lithuania separated from the surrounding world by a river. The local folk are thus forced every day to ferry their way to the opposite bank and then trudge the long journey to the nearest town. This mostly affects school-aged kids, however; local unemployed men need only make the trip once a week to stock up on vodka. Via eloquent, visually striking footage and the villagers’ humorous commentary, the directors acquaint us with a local way of life whose rhythm is set by a river.