In the film about the KGB in Lithuania – unexpected confessions of famous people

Today, in an impressive neoclassicism building located in Vilnius on the intersection of Aukų (Victims) street and Gediminas Avenue, there is the Museum of Genocide Victims . From 1941 up to 1991, this more than a century old building was occupied by NKGB (MGB, KGB) Lithuanian SSR unit, and there was an inside prison, in 1959 named remand prison. Two years ago, after Italian director Maximilien Dejoie visited the cellars of the building, the idea was born for the documentary film "Five" which is now in production. It started from a desire to learn, understand and remember more of those years, and of the people whose lives between the walls of this building had changed irreversibly.

"In the film we focus on the KGB activities in in the 1980's, the last decade of the Soviet regime. Main reason for this is rare and unique feature of this decade in the context of historical themes - memory of living people. We listen, talk to witnesses of the film and we hope that our and their film will become a part of common memory - memory of the nation and of entire world.  We are making this film believing that the genuine testimonies of living people will become a more forceful lesson for future generations, for which we would like to wish more awareness and peace than we have, literally repeating all the mistakes described in detail in history books,"- co-author of the film director Virginija Vareikytė shares her thoughts about the coming film and its context. 

One of the film's characters - priest Julius Sasnauskas - in the eighties was a hippie who wanted to have long hair, wear jeans, listen to Western music. Rebellious determination to fight for the right to be himself, which started during his adolescence, grew into dissident activities in the church underground.  Julius spent one year in the KGB remand prison, later another six years passed in Siberia.

The documentary film "Five" is a joint project of Lithuanian film company "Just a moment" and Italian film company "Indastria", currently inviting everybody to visit crowdfunding platform INDIEGOGO and contribute to the development and promotion of the film. Production of the film is partially funded by Lithuanian Film Centre and Italian Turin Piedmont documentary film fund.