HOW TO DIVORCE DURING THE WAR
Skyrybos karo metu
Directed by Andrius Blaževičius
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Ireland, Czech Republic | 108 min | 2026 | Lithuanian, English, Ukrainian, Russian | drama
Vilnius 2022. High-flying executive Marija chooses the worst possible moment for an honest conversation with her husband Vytas about divorcing – just one day before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine goes into full scale. Now the couple must navigate the process of separation as it collides with a refugee and mid-life crisis.
Credits
Director: Andrius Blaževičius
Screenplay: Andrius Blaževičius
Cinematography: Narvydas Naujalis
Editing: Anna Johnson Ryndová AFS
Production Design: Greta Vileikytė
Sound Design: Nicolas Tran Trong
Cast: Žygimantė Elena Jakštaitė, Marius Repšys, Amelija Adomaitytė, Indrė Patkauskaitė, Gintarė Parulytė.
Production Company: M-Films (Marija Razgutė)
Co-production Companies: Red Lion, Feline Films, Bionaut.
With support of: Lithuanian Film Centre, National Lithuanian Film and Television LRT, Film Fund Luxembourg, Screen Ireland, Czech Film Fund, Creative Europe MEDIA.
Andrius BlaževičiusLithuania
Festivals & Awards:
Sundance World Cinema Dramatic Competition 2026 – BEST DIRECTOR AWARD
Göteborg Film Festival 2026 – International Competition
Hong Kong International Film Festival 2026
Luxembourg City Film Festival 2026
press quotes
“intelligent, Chablis-dry comedy”
“A drily witty, subtly searing comedy (…) is both empathetic and surgical.”
“two superb leads”
„Following a Sundance competition premiere and a directing prize for Blaževičius, the timely, accessible “How to Divorce During the War” should secure wider global distribution.”
“combination of tender everyday observation and measured formal control.”
“(lead actress) Jakštaitė (…) soars to new heights in this film as Marija and is officially a veritable Renate Reinsve for the Baltic cinema scene”
“Blaževičius successfully finds humour in dark comedy and a touch of situational irony.”
“The filmmaker picks apart the discomfort of veering away from the status quo, while at the same time reminding us that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.”
“timely exploration of the limits of privilege and empathy”
“one of the best sequences of marital fracture in recent memory”
“intelligent screenplay”
“What starts as a realistic domestic drama about a failed marriage slowly transforms into a stinging satire about virtue signaling, what happens when your value systems get road-tested, and good intentions blowing up in your face. Prepare to relate in a way that will almost assuredly be too close for comfort.|
