Pilgrims, on OVID.tv

This provincial Lithuanian town might be the only place where the idea of collective guilt might be valid. At least that is what a grieving man and woman start to suspect. They came to town to retrace the final steps of the late Matas, but the truth hurts even more than they expected in Laurynas Bareisa’s Pilgrims, which premieres today on OVID.tv.

Somehow, both Paulius and Indre were very close to Matas. We quickly figure out Paulius was Matas’s brother, but Indre’s relationship will be revealed over time. That is clearly Bareisa’s M.O., slowly unveiling little tidbits of information, until a full mosaic suddenly forms.

It is also pretty clear who killed Matas—a notoriously thuggish local—but, again, the where, when, how, and why are initially obscure. Like those bizarre Kennedy assassination tourists, Paulius and Indre slavishly retrace Matas’s final steps, to fulfill their pilgrimage to be exactly where he was and see essentially what he saw during those final minutes, hours, and days. The villagers do not seem to appreciate that much. In fact, their hostility stokes the audience’s suspicions.

Bareisa’s approach might sound annoying, but the execution is so rigorously disciplined, it is really quite surprisingly powerful. Although it is not truly a thriller, there are moments in Pilgrims that feel comparable to the climax of George Sluizer’s The Vanishing.

Giedrius Kiela is so brutally down-to-earth-looking, you might confuse the film for a documentary while watching him. Although Gabija Bargailaite looks a little more likely to have a film career, there is nothing posh or extravagant about her work or the way she is presented. Indeed, it is an extraordinarily complex performance.

Screenwriters should take note of how Bareisa consistently resists the temptation to overwrite. At one point, a townsperson of questionable integrity asks Indre if Paulius is okay, to which she simply replies: “no.” Most filmmakers would then add something like “how could he be okay considering what happened and the horrible surrounding circumstances.” Yet, Bareisa and Bargailaite can express that all with a simple no.

This is a very good film, but it is not for people inclined to get antsy. You probably need to be more focused than the average Gen-Z attention span, but the work pays dividends. Highly recommended for sophisticated cineastes, Pilgrims starts streaming today (8/23) on OVID.tv.