
Slow sometimes shows its two protagonists, Lithuanians Dovydas and Elena, living their lives and their artsy, cool professions. But for the most part, and because this is a love story, the film captures them together. They discuss a lot of things, explaining the kind of people whom they were before their fateful work related meeting. They spend some silent, quality time, but at others, they return to defining what seems like a relationship.
Dovydas and Elena are trying to work it out but their baggage, always serving as problems in any relationship, becomes an issue. Dovydas is asexual, a kind of sexuality that Elena, like most people, is trying to understand. Elena is a modern middle millennial and has her share of past lovers, one of them serious enough to show up. They deal with conflicts with level headedness but how long can they keep cool despite their differences?
This is a film about two adults in love, so one may expect the camera to keep close, but some of the long shots feel like a choice. It’s still a good choice though, as their voices ring out through Lithuanian urbanscapes. There are also some interesting textures at play especially during segments where they go on a work trip. Otherwise, Slow gives the visuals that fit a narrative with an intimate scope, one with highs and lows.
An intimate, tender film like Slow also gives its two main actors material, although as Elena, Greta Grineviciute has more to do. There’s a scene when Elena admits to cheating to set terms which feels like a personal attack. That doesn’t mean that Dovydas is a less interesting character – after all, he’s representing asexuals. A lot goes into Dovydas outside that representation, and Kestutis Cicenas reinforces Dovydas’ likability..
One other aspect that Slow does is capture both Dovydas and Elena’s comfort in professions that I described as artsy and cool. Elena is a contemporary dancer whose pieces look like Paul Taylor’s minimalistic masterpieces. There’s something insular about seeing contemporary dance in this context but any exposure is good. Dovydas is a sign language interpreter for dancers and musicians, those scenes being on brand for MUBI.
Slow is a film that shows the full lives and loves of people of my generation. Dovydas and Elena don’t always make the best decisions, which makes their relatability specific to people with ‘experience’. Both seem like the people that others would fix themselves for. Watching them fall in love feels tender and capturing the arguments threatening their love feel just as devastating.
Watch Marija Kavtaradzė’s Slow, maybe one of the best films I’ll write about this month, on MUBI.
- Rated: 12, 15, 16, 18, 19
- Genre: Drama, Romance
- Directed by: Marija Kavtaradzė
- Starring: Gediminas Rimeika, Greta Grinevičiūtė, Kęstutis Cicėnas
- Produced by: Alicia Hansen, Luisa Romeo
- Written by: Marija Kavtaradzė
- Studio: Garagefilm International, M-Films