Divorce & War: A Lithuanian Couple's Double Crisis

The Lithuanian film "How to Divorce During the War" by Andrius Blaževičius intertwines a couple's personal separation with the backdrop of the conflict in Ukraine. Marija, a media executive, and Vytas, a screenwriter, find their divorce proceedings complicated by the war occurring in a neighboring country. This dual crisis shapes a disorienting period for their family, including their daughter Dovile.

The film deftly examines how personal angst can be channeled into social activism, with both Marija and Vytas making gestures of engagement. Marija resigns from her company in protest of its Russian branch and takes in Ukrainian refugees, while Vytas engages in performance art and attempts to counter Russian propaganda.

Blaževičius' distinctive style, featuring measured formal control and tender observation, is evident in scenes like an early long take capturing the divorce announcement through a car window. The narrative explores whether the characters' actions stem from human reactions to difficult times or from insidious compromises and hypocrisies they choose to live with.

Praised for its empathetic yet surgical approach, the film combines arch realism with subtle emotional depth. The performances of Žygimantė Elena Jakštaitė and Marius Repšys are noted for their finely tuned, delicately ironic portrayals, navigating between detachment and raw emotion. The sparse score and cinematography enhance the mood of uneasy drollery.