
            "I don't want to stay alive; I want to live..."
These lines by the film character Milda convey the essence of this film probably most
precisely. The story is taking place in the last decade of the 20 the century in Lithuania, in a
sanatorium located in a picturesque natural setting far from the bustle of the city.
Counterintuitively, convalescing there are not older adults but teenagers hoping for a
miracle. They suffer from various heart diseases, while some are awaiting a donor...
That is where teenager Saulius (M. Ivanauskas), a promising sprinter who unexpectedly
collapsed during a race, is brought to recuperate. As is characteristic to people of his age,
he is edgy and cantankerous, refusing to understand the reason for him being there and
not interested in making friends. In the beginning, neither the director of the medical facility
(L. Laucevicius), nor the young people's mentor Andrius (R. Kazlas) can find a way to
approach the new boy. But patience does wonders...
On the very first day, Milda (Roberta Sirgedaite), the long-term regular inpatient at the
sanatorium who is awaiting a donor heart, catches Saulius' eye. Despite everyone trying to
persuade Saulius that this girl is above his league, he's not going to give up easily. The
casual teenage infatuation gradually develops into true first love. Love that overcomes
every obstacle, disregards every forbiddance, does not listen to the voice of reason, that
can't be resisted, is dangerous, stays with us for the rest of our lives and is stronger than
death.
This is not only a story about love that knows no borders. In its background, the lives of
other characters are developing. A teacher with sadistic tendencies Vytas (A.
Gradauskas), nicknamed "Beak", who doesn't love children and opposes the methods of
their mentor Andrius, harbours an ambition of taking the good-natured directors' place.
Meanwhile, Andrius is struggling to save a relationship with the sanatorium nurse Gabija (I.
Patkauskaite), who feels neglected by her sweetheart, as he dedicates his entire attention
to the ill children. The teenage kids behave in a predictable for their age way - cause
havoc, get themselves into conflict or comic situations, suffer but always get up and
continue moving forward.
The film features a great cast of young (students of A. Latenas and V. Bareikis) and older
generation actors. It is a heartwarming, wide-eyed and sincere film that Lithuanian
audiences have long been awaiting. It depicts the time before the internet, mobile phones,
Facebook and Instagram. When feelings were purer, when we lifted our eyes to the sky
more often, when another person could become the most important thing in the world,
when hearts were genuine and knew how to beat as one.
    

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