2013 /

Cenotaph

61 min.  –  Documentary  –  61 min., color, DCP  –  2013 ,   STUDIO ULJANA KIM Leimotiv Production
Director : Audrius Stonys
Cinematographer : Audrius Kemežys
Music : Giedrius Puskunigis
Sound director : Saulius Urbanavičius
Editing director : Danielius Kokanauskis

In the summer of 1941, during the World War II, bodies of two dead Russian soldiers were found close to Utena city in Lithuania. A Lithuanian farmer buried the soldiers not far away from his homestead.

In the summer of 1944, a German officer died close to the same homestead. After having waited for the night to fall, the farmer buried the officer in the grave of the Russian soldiers. 

The farmer planted a small oak tree, so that he would not forget the exact location of the grave.

The secret of the grave has been kept for 70 years. The oak grew to be a big tree.

The farmer died, without having told the exact location of the grave.

In the summer of 2011, his son, now a 73-year-old bee-farmer Jonas Blažys, decided to find the grave of the nameless soldiers. 

That is how our film started out. 

Has the fear that had bound people seventy years ago finally disappeared? After all these years, has the road to the eternal resting place for these soldiers become easy to find?