Since Russia annexed Crimea, the military conscription for men was reinstated in Lithuania due to the growing concern within the country over its susceptibility to Russian military intervention. Simultaneously, a number of young women decided to register for military service on a voluntary basis. We follow 3 of these girls for 9 months as they live and train among 600 men at an isolated military base. In the beginning, the girls exploit a fanciful idea of what it means to be a soldier. A gentle girl, Agne, is dreaming of growing up and leaving her family home. Another girl – a tomboy Karina - sees the military as a chance to avoid the fate of her peers who all ended up working in supermarkets. Finally, a girl called Gintare just fancies the idea of wearing a soldier’s uniform at her wedding.
Their romantic visions are soon altered as they start the service and their expectations are challenged by reality.
Throughout the story, we see the military training itself fading into the background as the girls face far greater challenges in their personal lives. They need to find their inner warrior. By observing their physical and emotional transformation we witness the bearing of an independent woman who is responsible for her own fate and happiness.
Marija Stonytė born in Vilnius, Lithuania. Studied BA and MA in Film Directing at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. Prior, completed a course at Skalvija Film Academy. Studied at Escola Superior Artística do Porto, Portugal. Created short fiction and documentary films, gaining national and international awards. Took part in educational projects and seminars both, as participant, and as a lecturer. Lectured film directing and scriptwriting at the Film School “Youngblood”. Jury member at San Sebastian Festival’s 61st edition, “International Film students meeting”, 2013. Worked in feature films and series of national and international directors.
In 2018, Marija Stonyte was selected by Vilnius Town Hall to be a Lithuanian representative in the lens based digital media artist’s residency in Aviles Spain. Created an artwork I want to know you, part of the exhibition Womarts: Women (be)coming. Her artwork is exhibited in Maribor Art Gallery Maribor Slovenia; Vilnius Town Hall, Vilnius, Lithuania; Sala Isaac Díaz Pardo-Auditorio de Galicia, Médiathèque alpha grand Angoulême, France; Factoría Cultural de Avilés, Spain, church gallery, lsad limerick, Ireland. 2019-2021.
Selected participant in IDFAcademy 2016. Selected participant in IDFAcademy Summer School 2019. The Young Artist Award 2017 by the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture.
