Back to the family

A return to the countryside, to join a dying relative, in this case, a young woman returns to her family home, to mourn her grandmother, the one who truly raised her, even at the cost of clashing with her abusive parents. Perhaps the most often repeated premise in east european cinema, Back to the family can be inscribed in this large plethora of short, slow and bleak films, often debuting feature works. Only, this time in the director's chair it is Sarunas Bartas, one of the most relevant contemporary lithuanian filmmakers.

Even an overdone subject can be reproposed with a new interpretative key. For instance, Maryna Vroda's debut feature film Stepne brilliantly used an almost identical premise, but through it she unlocked a whole exploration of identity, nostalgia, of the effects of the passage of time. Back to the family, unfortunately, fades in the comparison: even when the cinematography by Lukas Karalius tries to capture the mysty, near-dusk natural scape that surrounds the small village, this suspended atmosphere does not permeate to the interiors, where the family drama, as dark as it is, often feels muffled, considering exactly how dreadful it is.

Such a negative series of remarks should be counterbalanced by a praise of the cast ensemble, that has managed to counterbalance the flaws by crafting a somewhat captivating experience: the performances encapsulate the meanings the film tries to unravel, and some interactions are involving enough to hold the flame of the story.

Had it been a debut film, Back to the Family would have been rather respectable. As a film from a well estabilished filmmaker, it sadly lacks an originality that would elevate it.

RATING: 3/5

Original title: Back to the Family

Directed by: Šarūnas Bartas

Country: Lithuania

Year: 2025

Length: 93 min.

Premiere: Rotterdam Film Festival 2025