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In total, almost 30 screenings of the film are planned for both the prisoners and the professionals who work with them. The project is implemented in Vilnius, Kaunas, Panevėžys, Šiauliai, Alytus and Marijampolė. After the screening, the people living in the Vilnius Correctional Center agreed to share their impressions of the film.
I liked the movie, but the main character turned out to be weak.
“The reactions of the prisoners without exceptions are positive. Although many saw the film after a long day at work (residents of half-life houses operating in Vilnius correctional facilities work at various workplaces in Vilnius), not many said that the film was engaging, interesting and enjoyable. .
The duration of the film was almost two hours, but there was concentration in the room. Although the people in between did not reveal possible similarities to their own experiences later in the discussion, it is possible to feel that the scenes may have reflected their very real experiences, ”says Monika Milda Burneikaitė, a social worker from Vilnius Correctional Institution who led the discussion. after the movie.
Although the convicts liked the movie, no one identified with the main character Oleg; After discussing the film, they said they found the character weak and lacking in determination.
Marius, 33 years old (name changed), it turned out that the movie “Oleg” does not represent the present, but times past: “I don’t know what the main character should be, who seems to have never encountered anything. There are parts of the film in which he behaves thoughtfully and intelligently, but lacks determination elsewhere. It was possible to turn to colleagues for help, after all, it was a big city, help could be abundant. Especially when he speaks English. To this day, Oleg’s unfortunate journey seems far removed from reality. Technology and age don’t stop. Even Oleg’s phone … no one has it anymore. “
Recalling the plot of the film, it can be mentioned that Oleg is a young Latvian who went to Belgium to earn money for the first time. After working in a meat factory, he is soon fired for his co-worker’s lie. Then he was tempted by the proposal of a seemingly friendly Pole. Andrzej promises him a new passport, a job and accommodates him. Oleg works honestly, but is not rewarded. Andrew only shares promises, but there is no money yet. Oleg plans to escape, he goes to Brussels, but returns again, then he is already forced to commit a crime and live by the rules of Angie, who begins to threaten him, takes away his passport, plans a joint crime.
When the moderator of the discussion asked if Oleg could have done the opposite, the majority said that he needed to buy a ticket much earlier and return to Riga, that he could apply for it at a consulate or other institution.
“Based on his behavior, it is even difficult to believe that he is from Riga, I would say that he is from some town. There is no perception. On the other hand, there are no skills to drive from Ghent to Brussels, that is a matter of business. He can be said to be a scientist if he is successful. Such a discrepancy was a bit strange, “said one of the discussion participants humorously.
“One can only speculate as to why it was difficult for the convicts to empathize with the experience of the main character. Given that most of the half people are men, it can be assumed that a hero who fails to defend himself, control the situation, resist, It can be difficult to equate them with the stereotype of a real man.
To admit that you see yourself in Oleg’s character is to admit that you cannot defend yourself, you are a victim. Such thinking in correctional facilities can lead to disrespect to other convicts, can be quickly excluded, and even showing weakness can be dangerous. Given that prisoners spend many years in a penitentiary, it is not surprising that presenting themselves as strong, unshakable, becomes a form of adaptation, part of a person’s identity ”, says the specialist who moderated the discussion.
Prisoners drew attention to metaphors and humor
The convicts marveled at Oleg’s character choices and fear of resisting Andrzej, but some of them read the film’s metaphors perfectly. Arvydas (name changed), 48, commented: “Obviously, this man lived alone with his grandmother, he did not have normal relationships with his parents, a lot of mistakes were made in Riga, where he had to flee, where he was persecuted by debts. Since he did not have a normal upbringing in childhood, he falls into such situations. It can be said that he is a socially vulnerable person. It is an inexperience of life, a person would not normally fall for such a story.
It was a difficult journey for him. From beginning to end. When he showed that lamb, Oleg’s life is similar, always in suffering. All the circumstances in the character’s life were bad. Like that plow, you prove it, you fell and it took you under the ice. It is difficult to escape. You naturally try to work, to be honest, but those around you put their foot down. “
The convicts said there was a lot of humor in the movie. Most got caught up in the scene when Oleg joins a theatrical party from Latvia and is supported by one of the organizers as an actor. The woman flirts with Oleg, they go to the disco together, then return to the woman’s house, spend the night, and in the morning when Oleg admits that he is a butcher and not an actor, she kicks him out of his apartment.
“Here are the criteria for evaluating women. When an actor is interesting, and when it turns out that an ordinary worker no longer cares, ”the prisoners laughed.
You want to start a new life abroad
Raimonda? After all, he is a young, simple and sincere man who was looking for a better life.
Myself, working directly with convicts for many years and listening to them, I have heard several stories similar to Oleg’s. A significant number of people I met in correctional institutions told me that they felt like strangers in their own country, so after serving their sentences they wanted to start their lives anew when they went abroad.
Although many times they do not know the language, they do not know exactly where they will go, who will find them and will wait for them, they are naively risking and hoping that their problems will be easier to solve in a foreign country, that they will be more hospitable, live easier and win more money. I have no doubt that many prisoners who have seen the film have recognized the situations that they themselves have lived or have had the opportunity to see what risks lead to naivety or the fulfillment of pink dreams would go into the unknown. Often, without the necessary skills to recognize risky situations, and then with no other way out, they re-enter the circle of crime ”.
Olego’s production company Inscript and the Department of Prisons are organizing a series of screenings of the film Olegai, which has received two Silver Winch statuettes and two national Lithuanian film awards, for convicts and their employees. The project is funded by the Lithuanian Culture Council and the Lithuanian Film Center.
