As a cinephile with a penchant for thought-provoking cinema that leaves me pondering long after the credits roll, Laurynas Bareisa’s “Drowning Dry” has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on my film-viewing experience. The film’s enigmatic narrative structure, reminiscent of a puzzle piece constantly shifting shape, keeps one guessing and on edge, never allowing for a moment of complacency.
As a gamer immersed in Laurynas Bareisa’s captivating second film, “Drowning Dry” (or “Seses”), I found myself often questioning the timeline – was I witnessing events unfolding now, then, or perhaps some foreboding future? The fluidity of time serves to disorient and intrigue, keeping me on my toes without compromising the narrative’s coherence. Instead, this fractured storytelling technique heightened the overwhelming sense of sadness that hangs over this somber narrative about two families whose idyllic summer vacation takes a dark turn.
Initially, things appear quite agreeable for Ernesta (Gelmine Glemzaite), as she embarks on a trip to a tranquil lakeside countryside villa together with her husband Lukas (Paulius Markevicius, bearing some resemblance to Klaus Kinski at times) and their younger son. Joining them are Ernesta’s sister Juste (Agne Kaktaite), her spouse Tomas (Giedrius Kiela, who previously starred in Bareisa’s debut film, Pilgrims)), along with their daughter, who seems to be around the same age as Ernesta’s child.
Upon arriving at their rural abode, families find themselves enveloped by an undercurrent of tension: Lukas, a MMA champion who triumphs in the film’s initial match, bears deep wounds rather than victory laurels. His wife, Ernesta, appears weary of his recurring bruises and maintains a cold distance throughout the early scenes, attending to his injuries yet shunning him in their shared bedroom.
In the meantime, Juste and Tomas’ marriage is experiencing some major challenges, as shown when the former embarrassingly strips naked before his wife, which only leads to him being met with ridicule. Juste appears to prefer spending time with her sister, and it’s later revealed that the house they are staying in has been part of their family for several generations.
Initially, it appears that “Drowning Dry” will follow a predictable pattern as it portrays two couples navigating their complex emotions during a vacation, much like countless French films set in picturesque country homes where passions flare and fade. However, author Bariesa surprises us around the one-third mark with an unexpected event: Juste’s daughter accidentally falls into the lake and remains submerged.
The catastrophe unexpectedly unfolds, initiating a single-shot scene that initially appears relaxed, even whimsical, before undergoing a rapid metamorphosis. (Barisa took on the role of cinematographer in the film, and his somber, methodically arranged shots echo the work of Michael Haneke.) However, what follows the lake scene is all the more startling. The movie abruptly advances to another location and era, where we discover Ernesta and her son at an indoor pool in Vilnius, a place where he’s been learning to swim for quite some time.
1. Did Ernesta’s niece tragically drown in the lake, and what became of Lukas, who seems to have vanished from the narrative? Could it be that he met his end in another brutal MMA bout?
Bariesa doesn’t immediately respond to those questions, instead jumping between various time periods, gradually unveiling the events of a tragic day in the country. The response isn’t quite what you might expect, but it makes perfect sense considering all that has been shown earlier. There’s a powerful cumulative impact to the director’s method, as each fragment eventually fits together to create a complete picture that carries the weight of real tragedy and loss. We’re witnessing fragments of life, but they are rearranged multiple times until they coalesce into a plausible narrative about overcoming hardship.
The Lithuanian title of the film, “Seses,” means “Sisters,” symbolizing the various highs and lows that Ernesta and Juste face throughout the movie. However, its English title offers a more insightful interpretation, as it refers to a condition called “anesthesia aquatica,” which affects individuals who have survived drowning or witnessed someone else drowning.
As a gamer, I’d say the atmosphere in Bareisa’s storytelling is remarkably similar to the feeling of being trapped in a never-ending maze. The tragic event that unfolds affects multiple characters over an extended period – days, months, even years. Yet, it’s as if time itself is looping back on itself, drawing me closer and closer to the original incident. It’s like I can barely breathe, trapped in this emotional labyrinth, waiting for the moment when the story circles back to its beginning.
Despite my initial struggles with it, let me tell you, “Drowning Dry” isn’t all doom and gloom. Before the final reveal of the truth, scattered moments hint at the resilience of life, subtly suggesting that those who have endured can find ways to move forward, even when burdened by loss. They harbor a deep sorrow within them, yet there’s always a glimmer of hope for new beginnings, time and again.
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2024-08-15 02:56