The Runner

An 87-minute-long anxiety attack masquerading as a movie - but in a good way - Lithuanian filmmaker Andrius Blaževičius' sophomore feature is a kinetic portrayal of an extraordinary young woman paradoxically trapped at a psychological impasse.

Parts of the film are frustrating, and downright suspenseful, because Marija earns our respect while no one else gives her any. Thanks to Jaktaitė's bracing performance, we know she also internalizes this hard-earned truth.

[The characters'] legs run, yes, but only by resting on their own materiality, only by being present before the camera, can they give meaning to the aesthetic device that moves them, and us with them. [Full review in Spanish]

Blaevičius ventures further down his path of being one of the most interesting young directors in Lithuania today, with Runner continuing to show that the director has both an empathetic touch and a knack for exploring contemporary issues.