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SEARCHING FOR THE VILNA GAON
2020 | 7 min. 30 sek. | Documentary, animation | Lithuania
Director and Writer
Vytautas Puidokas
Animation Director
Eglė Davidavičė
Producer
Dagnė Vildžiūnaitė
Cinematographer
Linas Žiūra
Editor and Colorist
Vladas Litvanas
Sound Designer
Dominyka Adomaitytė
Composers
Arkadijus Gotesmanas, Paulius Kilbauskas, Vygintas Kisevičius
Production
Just a moment (LT)
Financiers
Lithuanian Culture Institute (LT)
Synopsis
Many things about the legendary figure of the Vilna Gaon remain a mystery up to this day - what did he look like? Are all the stories about his ascetic yet profoundly enlightened life mere fiction? Lithuanian film director Vytautas Puidokas attempts to tap into the mystery of this prolific Talmudist, halakhist, kabbalist and thinker, born as Elijah ben Solomon Zalman in 1720. In a short, but poignant film he highlights our elusive knowledge, yet enduring impact, of this man's legacy. What in fact are we searching for when we embark on the quest to find the genius of the Vilna Gaon? This video has been commissioned by the Lithuanian Culture Institute in cooperation with Lithuanian cultural attachés on the occasion of the Year of the Vilna Gaon and of the history of the Jews in Lithuania.
Festivals
2021 Miami Jewish Film Festival (US)
2021 Gershman Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival (US)
2020 Jerusalem Film Festival (IL)
Press
Koks Vilniaus Gaono įvaizdis šiuolaikinėje visuomenėje? Pilno metro, LRT klasika
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