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BEHIND THE CAMERA

Thoughts on "Forest of the Gods" by the filmmakers

ROBERTAS URBONAS, producer
(about the choise of the project)
„The script of „Forest of the Gods" is interesting because of its unexpected attitude towards the holocaust and concentration camp subjects that were exposed in cinema so many times before ("Schindler’s list", "The Pianist", "Life is beautiful"). But there was a great deal of risk making this film - the things that B. Sruoga wrote about as personal sores so many years ago have become stamps in the cinema over the time.

(about the relevance of the subject)
"The subject of a man being in a closed environment is topical nowadays as well. There are so many things happening in the world today that make a person feel imprisoned and trying to escape.
"Even though "Forest of the Gods" by Balys Sruoga is a programme piece in Lithuanian schools, the film is not an adaptation of the famous book. We are basing the film on it. There are many made up episodes in the film, that were not in the book".

(about the choice of the actor)
„The main Professor’s role was given to a theatre and film actor Valentinas Masalskis. At first there doubts about the body structure. B. Sruoga was a tall 1meter 90 centimeters man. "But then we decided we are not going to play Sruoga. This film is based on his novel. Then we chose Valentinas. He is a great personality."

ALGIMANTAS PUIPA, director
(about the genre of the film)
"Between ourselves we call this film a black comedy. Others say it understates the film. I think it is best to call this film as B. Sruoga called his book - a piece full of hangman‘s humor."

(about V. Masalskis)
"It was very important to find a personality, who would behave similarly in Sruoga’s situation. Valentinas is a strange idealist who believes in the power of art and I am a little worried about him because nobody needs this belief anymore."

STEVEN BERKOFF, playing commandant Hope
(about the script)
This script is very good. It is based on true facts. This is real life and not a made up adventure.

(about his character)
„ ...The Nazi that I play is very interesting because he is not a stereotype one. His is sensitive in a way with a feeling of guilt, but he still is a concentration camp commandant. The director gave me some advice to play simply but not like some kind of führer. It wasn’t difficult getting into this character. Everything goes into places the second you put the uniform on."

(apie Lithuanian actors starring in the film)
„The director has chosen great actors for the film. I’ve noticed that Lithuanian actors are brilliant, famous all around the world. In a small country like this such great theatres is a wonderful thing. I’ve seen some performances and I must say they were very interesting. "

VALENTINAS MASALSKIS, playing Professor
(about working with the director)
He always listens to my suggestions, is very forgiving. Any creativity process in theatre or film is not personal, but based on a collective search of criteria. A. Puipa can change the whole scene if he likes the idea. He is not attached to, metaphorically speaking, to medals, orders and laurels."

(about his character)
Balys Sruoga worshiped truth. It is very interesting for me to try and touch this man-mountain. I’m trying to catch his energy. I’m not conveying the anatomy of the situation. It’s not interesting, because I’ll never go through what this man has experienced.

ALGIMANTAS MIKUTĖNAS, director of photography
(about the working speed)
„We had to shoot two - three scenes a day... I learned to work fast, because working in a Lithuanian - more precisely Soviet speed - it would be impossible to make a film... The whole film crew - real professionals, used to high speed, because already have expierence in working with foreign film companies..."

JOHN GROVER, editor
(about working behind the scene)
This is the first film of this genre I am working on. Usually I edit action films, but I myself mostly prefer serious films... The material of „forest of the Gods" is a real challenge to me..."

DAIVA PETRULYTĖ, costume designer
(about professional responsibility)
„I miss Lithuanian films in general. Lately only been working with British, German, French filmmakers... „Forest of the Gods"scares me more then all of the put together - it is Lithuanian classics after all. It will be analyzed using a magnifier...
„The biggest responsibility is the costumes of the main actors. My attitude was that everything had to be authentic, because close ups give away any fraud. It is very difficult to age clothes. Besides, during the pre war period materials and textures were different".

MONIKA BIČIŪNAITĖ, playing Hope‘s wife
(about Steven Berkoff)
„He is a very talented actor. His acting is so natural. It is as if he is spreading some kind of fluids and I had no fear myself doing scenes with him".

GALIUS KLIČIUS, production designer
(about the set decorations in Medsedziai)
„For me „Forest of the Gods" is already the fourth concantration camp as it is to the producer Robertas Urbonas. But each of the was different. Atrting working on „Stuthof" I had read a big book about the camp, whatch lots of visual material.

 
    
 
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