The Southern Chronicles Captures 1990s Lithuania in Record-Breaking Oscar Bid

Lithuania has selected its highest-grossing local film ever for the 2026 Oscars. The submission is Ignas Miškinis’s coming-of-age drama, The Southern Chronicles. The film is set in 1994, just years after the nation regained its independence.

It has become a cultural phenomenon at home. The movie won 12 awards at the Lithuanian Silver Crane Awards, including best picture.

A Cinematic Time Capsule from the Wild East

The film follows a 17-year-old named Rimantas. He is more interested in rugby and street life than literature. His world changes after he meets Monika from a middle-class family.

This encounter opens him to new perspectives. The story is adapted from a bestselling novel by Rimantas Kmita. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the director wanted authenticity above all.

Miškinis aimed to create a movie that felt like it was made in the 1990s. He used period-accurate filming techniques. This included shooting on 16mm film and VHS cameras.

Nostalgia with a Critical Eye

The director does not view the era through rose-tinted glasses. He recalls the 1990s as a dark and difficult time. He described it as the “wild, wild East” full of crime and corruption.

His initial reaction to the project was to avoid a comedy about that period. He eventually saw it as a way to process the past. The film allows audiences to laugh at themselves and that chaotic decade.

The soundtrack is packed with Eurodance hits. These include Culture Beat’s “Mr. Vain” and Technotronic’s “Pump Up the Jam.” Miškinis says this music was not his personal taste at the time.

The film’s record-breaking success and authentic portrayal of a nation in flux make The Southern Chronicles a powerful contender for the international Oscar. This Lithuanian film offers a unique window into a transformative decade.

Thought you’d like to know

What is The Southern Chronicles about?

It is a coming-of-age story about a 17-year-old in 1990s Lithuania. His life revolves around rugby and street culture until he meets a girl from a different background. The encounter opens him up to literature and new ways of thinking.

Why is this film significant for Lithuania?

It is the highest-grossing Lithuanian film in the country’s history. The film also swept the national Silver Crane Awards, winning 12 major prizes. Its selection for the Oscars highlights the growth of the local film industry.

How does the film recreate the 1990s era?

The director used 16mm film and VHS cameras to achieve an authentic period look. The soundtrack is filled with popular Eurodance music from that time. The production design meticulously replicates the fashion and feel of 1994.

Where was the movie filmed?

The movie was shot in Šiauliai, a city in northern Lithuania. The city is known as the capital of rugby in the country. This location was central to the film’s authentic portrayal of the story’s setting.

What awards has the film won?

It won the Baltic competition at the 2024 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. Domestically, it secured 12 Lithuanian Silver Crane Awards. These included the top honors for best feature film and best director.