Preview Screening and Discussion of the Film The Most Precious of Cargoes

We invite you to a special advance screening of the animated film The Most Precious of Cargoes, followed by a discussion. The names of discussion participants will be announced soon.

The Most Precious of Cargoes is a deeply moving and visually distinctive animated film directed by Oscar-winning French filmmaker of Lithuanian descent, Michel Hazanavicius. Following his internationally acclaimed film The Artist, Hazanavicius turns to animation – a form that allows for even greater emotional depth and storytelling nuance.

The film tells the story of a Jewish infant thrown from a train on the way to Auschwitz, and the lonely woman who finds and chooses to care for the child, having lost her own. It is a story about ordinary people who, even amidst the horrors of war, choose humanity and compassion.

The director himself drew the character sketches, and the film’s visual language is rooted in his childhood love for drawing, as well as artistic inspiration from French and Russian painting, and the works of Japanese artist Hiroshige. Hazanavicius chose animation intentionally, as it allows for “truth without actors,” and in his words, “there is no world off-screen” in animation. The film’s emotional atmosphere is further enriched by a delicate musical score composed by fellow Oscar-winner Alexandre Desplat.

This film is not only a work of art but also a quiet reminder of light in the darkest times, of empathy and humanity. It is a fairytale for adults – but one children can also understand – carrying deep emotional and historical significance for future generations.

The film opens in Lithuanian cinemas on June 13.

Please note: Organizers may photograph and film the event. Photos and video recordings will be used for publicity purposes and for preserving historical memory.