The Southern Chronicles

The Southern Chronicles
Lithuanian theatrical release poster
LithuanianPietinia Kronikas
Directed byIgnas Miškinis
Screenplay byEglė Vertelytė
Based onPietinia Kronikas
by Rimantas Kmita
Produced byLukas Trimonis
StarringDžiugas Grinys
Robertas Petraitis
Digna Kulionytė
CinematographyNarvydas Naujalis
Edited byDanielius Kokanauskis
Music byVytis Puronas
Production
companies
Lietuvos Televizija
iN SCRiPT
Release dates
  • November 6, 2024 (2024-11-06) (Cottbus)
  • January 24, 2025 (2025-01-24) (Lithuania)
  • May 23, 2025 (2025-05-23) (Estonia)
Running time
120 minutes
CountriesLithuania
Estonia
LanguageLithuanian
Box officeUS$3.7 million[1]

The Southern Chronicles (Lithuanian: Pietinia Kronikas) is a 2024 coming-of-age comedy-drama film[2] directed by Ignas Miškinis and written by Eglė Vertelytė.[3] Based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Rimantas Kmita, the film is a joint Lithuanian-Estonian co-production,[4] starring Džiugas Grinys, Robertas Petraitis and Digna Kulionytė.[5]

The film competed in the main competition at the 28th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival on November 21, 2024, where it won Best Baltic Film.[6] It won 12 Silver Crane Awards including Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Actor for Džiugas Grinys, Best Supporting Actress for Irena Sikorskytė and Best Screenplay.[7]

It was selected as Lithuanian's entry for the 98th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film, but it was not nominated.[8]

The movie became a mass commercial success as it was the highest grossing film in the country in 2025 and is currently the highest-grossing Lithuanian film ever made.[9]

Synopsis

Set in the early-1990s, a few years after Lithuania's re-independence, Rimantas is a 17-year-old boy who is more interested in playing rugby, listening to music, and dealing on the black market with his friend Minde than in studying. However, when he falls in love with the beautiful, middle-class Monika, his faith in love and the future is put to the test.[10]

Cast

The actors participating in this film are:[11]

  • Džiugas Grinys as Rimantas
  • Digna Kulionytė as Monika
  • Robertas Petraitis as Minde
  • Irena Sikorskytė as Jurga
  • Rasa Samuolytė as Lithuanian language teacher
  • Vaidile Juozaityte as Edita
  • Dovile Silkaityte as Rimantas' Mother
  • Algirdas Dainavicius as Rimantas' Father
  • Neringa Varnelyte as Monika's Mother
  • Dainius Gavenonis as Monika's Father
  • Vaidotas Martinaitis as Rugby Coach 1
  • Julius Zalakevicius as Rugby Coach 2
  • Sarunas Rapolas Meliesius as Darius

Production

Principal photography took place in the summer of 2022 in Šiauliai, Lithuania.[12]

Release

The film had its world premiere on November 6, 2024, at the 34th International Film Festival Cottbu,[13] then screened on November 21, 2024, at the 28th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival,[14] and on January 14, 2025, at the 35th Tromsø International Film Festival.[15]

The film was released commercially on January 24, 2025, in Lithuanian theaters,[16] and on May 23, 2025, in Estonian theaters.[17]

Reception

Box office

In its debut weekend, the film attracted 57,948 viewers for a total of €453,455,[18] making it the highest-grossing opening weekend in the country's history,[19] surpassing Avatar: The Way of Water, Slender Man, Ashes in the Snow, and Frozen 2.[20] In its third weekend in theaters, the film was seen by a total of 260,775 viewers, grossing €2.63 million.[21]

Almost two months after its commercial release, it became the highest-grossing Lithuanian film in history.[22]

Accolades

Award Ceremony date Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 24 November 2024 Best Baltic Film The Southern Chronicles Won [23]
Silver Crane Awards 8 June 2025 Best Feature Film Won [24]
Best Director Ignas Miškinis Won
Best Actor Džiugas Grinys Won
Best Supporting Actress Digna Kulionyte Nominated
Irena Sikorskytė Won
Best Supporting Actor Robertas Petraitis Won
Best Screenplay Eglė Vertelytė Won
Best Cinematographer Narvydas Naujalis Nominated
Best Editor Danielius Kokanauskis Won
Best Composer Vytis Puronas Nominated
Best Make-up Vaida Navickaitė Won
Best Costume Design Agnė Biskytė Won
Best Production Design Aurimas Akšys Won
Best Sound Design Saulius Urbanavičius Won
Audience Award The Southern Chronicles Won

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Southern Chronicles". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  2. ^ "The 34th FilmFestival Cottbus: The competitions at a glance". FilmFestivals. 2024-10-23. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  3. ^ "Šiaulietiško filmo "Pietinia kronikas" laikotarpis | Šiaulių kraštas". Skrastas (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  4. ^ Gabelia, Alexander. "Smashing Hit for The Southern Chronicles at Lithuanian National Awards Silver Crane 2025". Film New Europe. Archived from the original on 2025-07-08. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  5. ^ "Southern Chronicles + meeting with the creators". KCRomuva. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  6. ^ "Igno Miškinio "Pietinia Kronikos" pripažintas geriausiu filmu Baltijos šalyse". LRT televizija (in Lithuanian). 2024-11-24. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  7. ^ Bertašiūtė-Čiužienė, Monika. "Išdalintos "Sidabrinės gervės": filmas "Pietinia kronikas" susižėrė 12 apdovanojimų". 15min (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  8. ^ "Lithuania picks Pietinia Kronikas as its Oscar submission for best international feature". Lithuanian National Television and Radio. 18 September 2025. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  9. ^ "Lithuania Selects Post-Soviet Coming-of-Age 'The Southern Chronicles' as Oscar Candidate". Variety. 18 September 2025.
  10. ^ Kažukauskaite, Neringa (2022-08-18). "Lithuanian Director Ignas Miškinis Shoots Coming-of-Age Drama 'Southern Chronicles'". Variety. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  11. ^ Deksnys, Augustinas (2025-01-30). "Kas glūdi už filmo "Pietinia kronikas" triumfo žygio Lietuvos kino teatruose?". Bernardinai.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  12. ^ "Filmo "Pietinia kronikas" anonso pristatyme paskelbta premjeros data". Šiaulių kraštas (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  13. ^ "Film "Southern Chronicles" (Lithuanian: "Pietinia Kronikas") starts its tour of foreign festivals". lfc.lt. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  14. ^ "Vos startavęs filmas "Pietinia kronikas" iškart pateko į istoriją: pagerino lietuviško kino rekordą". Delfi veidai (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  15. ^ "Southern Chronicles". Tromsø International Film Festival (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  16. ^ "Filmo "Pietinia kronikas" režisierius Ignas Miškinis: "Ši istorija – kur kas daugiau nei tik komiškas grįžimas į laukinius 90-uosius"". Lrytas.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  17. ^ "LÕUNAMAA KROONIKAD Pietinia Kronikas (2024) Režissöör: Ignas Miskinis". Piletimaailm. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  18. ^ "Vos ekranuose startavęs filmas "Pietinia kronikas" iškart pateko į istoriją: pagerino lietuviško kino rekordą". Vakarų ekspresas (in Lithuanian). 2025-01-28. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  19. ^ "Vos startavęs filmas "Pietinia kronikas" iškart pateko į istoriją: pagerino lietuviško kino rekordą". Delfi (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  20. ^ "Vos kino teatrus pasiekęs "Pietinia kronikas" iškart pateko į istoriją: pagerino lietuviško kino rekordą". Kino naujienos (in Lithuanian). 2025-01-28. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  21. ^ "Filmas "Pietinia kronikas" lieka lyderiu ir keliauja į užsienį | Šiaulių kraštas". Šiaulių kraštas (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  22. ^ "Filmas "Pietinia kronikas" pagerino lietuviško kino rekordą". Delfi (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  23. ^ Roxborough, Scott (2024-11-23). "Mongolian Drama 'Silent City Driver' Wins Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  24. ^ Popp, Olivia (2025-06-10). "The Southern Chronicles wins big at Lithuania's Silver Crane Awards". Cineuropa. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
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