15 May 2017
“Miracle (Stebuklas)”---European Union Film Festival
Release Year: 2017
Country: Lithuania
Director: Egle Vertelyte
Cast: Egle Mikulionyte, Vyto Ruginis
Location I watched: National Gallery Singapore
Story from the programme booklet:
It is 1992 and Lithuania has shifted from communism to capitalism, leaving the small collective pig farm managed by Irena, in dire straits. She struggles to keep the farm and her workers afloat when a handsome American, Bernardas, arrives, pledging to save the struggling enterprise and turns Irena’s family life and the village’s routine upside-down. As Irena falls for his charms, she realizes that his intentions may not be entirely innocent.
In the programme booklet, “Miracle” is categorized as Drama/Comedy. But if you expected a comedy, you would be disappointed with this film. Although there are some scenes that try to make the audience laugh, basically this is not a funny film. Like Irena, the protagonist, the film is earnest. Irena’s town is going to be swallowed by the drastic change of society. She does not know what she can do, but anyway she is trying to do something to make the situation better. Then, a suspicious American man appears. The film seems to reflect those days and it is not fun.
Eventually Irena lost everything：the pig farm with the memories of her late father, the pigs, her husband and her love. However, when she lost everything, ironically she got pregnant. She was blessed with a baby despite already having given up. In the last scene of the film, she visits a church. She may have felt it a kind of revelation, but she does not pray. I do not think that she has got her faith by this incident. “Miracle” is a story about a middle-aged woman reaches the turning point of her life with society’s big change. Everything does not go well. I am not sure if Irena’s pregnancy under this situation is a joyful happening or not. However, she still tries to restart her life. She sets off alone. Even though the basic tone of the film was gray, the ending was something refreshing.
By the way, Bernardas, the American, came to Irena’s pig farm because his late mother told him there is prosperity under a maple tree located in the farm. However, the result just gave Bernardas disappointment because the “prosperity” was just a family secret related to his birth... Mother, you should have told him such an important and personal matter directly. Why did you tell him such a vague story? Didn’t you like him? (September 21, 2018)
