New Movies: Drowning Dry (2024) by Laurynas Bareiša: Trauma by the Lake

A quiet, fractured family drama exploring grief, memory, and resilience

Summary Short

A Norwegian-Lithuanian-Latvian drama that chronicles a family weekend derailed by a child's near-drowning, told through fragmented flashbacks to reveal trauma’s lingering effects on relationships, identity, and memory.

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29279885/

Link Review: https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/465073/

About movie: https://www.dekanalog.com/films/drowning-dry

Link to watch: https://picl.nl/films/drowning-dry

Detailed Summary

Laurynas Bareiša’s sophomore feature unfolds over a seemingly tranquil lakeside weekend, where sisters Ernesta and Justė, their husbands Lukas and Tomas, and their children gather to celebrate. A near-tragic incident occurs when Justė’s daughter almost drowns, triggering a shift in family dynamics. What ensues is a nonlinear, emotionally claustrophobic navigation through grief, guilt, and fractured memories. Featuring static, lingering camera work and fragmented structure, the film offers a meditative yet unsettling look at how one event reverberates through time and psyche.

Plot summary

• Family reunion at the lake houseErnesta’s family and Justė’s extended clan gather to celebrate martial-arts victory and a birthday, enjoying swimming, meals, and subtle marital tensions.

• The daughter’s fall into the lakeIn a tense, sudden moment, Justė’s child slips beneath the water, catalyzing the film’s central trauma.

• Fragmented time shiftsThe narrative crisscrosses between pre-accident serenity and post-accident tension, layering perspectives and emotions.

• Becoming single mothersAfter the incident, Ernesta and Justė must navigate motherhood altered by guilt, fear, and fractured partnership.

• Trauma’s slow unfoldingScenes repeat with subtle variations, showing how memory warps reality and how small triggers reignite emotional wounds.

Director’s Vision

• Clinical symbolismThe title references “dry drowning”—lung complications post near-drowning—mirrored in the film’s structural echoes and emotional seepage.

• Framing for emotional distanceStationary shots with long takes and soft zooms position the viewer as observer, not participant, reflecting trauma’s distancing effect. 

• Fragmented narrativeA nonlinear structure emphasizes the emotional, not chronological, logic of memory. 

• Personal groundingBareiša draws from his own experience with a near-tragedy involving his child, infusing authenticity into the trauma representation. 

Themes

• Unresolved griefThe film reveals how trauma remains present, even amid everyday life, eroding parental identity.

• Memory’s fragilityRepeated scenes with subtle emotional differences highlight how memory reconstructs reality. 

• Family identity under duressFormerly united couples now juggle guilt, blame, and changed family roles post-crisis.

• Survival and adaptationAmid emotional paralysis, the film suggests hope in mundane routines and small gestures.

Key success factors

• Direction & ensembleBareiša earned Best Direction at Locarno, and the cast (Glemžaitė, Kaktaitė, Kiela, Markevičius) won Best Performance. 

• Structured traumaThe narrative mirrors “dry drowning” structurally—trauma surfaces later, silently but powerfully. 

• Visual restraintLong static shots and minimal camera movement amplify the film’s emotional tone with subtlety. 

• International acclaimPremiered at Locarno’s Concorso Internazionale; selected as Lithuania’s entry for the 97th Oscars. 

Awards & Nominations

Won Best Direction and Best Performance Ensemble at the 2024 Locarno Film Festival. Chosen as Lithuania’s submission for Best International Feature at the 97th Academy Awards, though it did not receive a nomination. 

Critics Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes (93%)Critics highlight its “stimulating and imaginative” storytelling, calling it an “absorbing, intensely conceived” drama. 

• Film ThreatPraises its “unexpectedly fascinating” structure and strong performances, though notes the ending feels abrupt.

• BorrowingTapeObserves its “non-linear, fragmented storytelling” as compelling, though potentially inaccessible to mainstream audiences.

Overall, critics appreciate its formal ambition and ensemble strength, with some noting its subdued pacing and structural density.

Reviews

• Cineuropa (Muriel Del Don)Calls it a “cruel yet poetic tale,” applauding its exploration of memory, trauma, and intimacy through delicate, extended shots. 

• Loud And Clear (Sebastian Zavala)Commends its emotionally intelligent non-linear structure, stating it “pulls the rug” while delivering satisfying emotional logic. 

• Eye for Film (Amber Wilkinson)Highlights its elliptical storytelling and clinical emotional tone, noting reflective commentary on masculinity and sisterhood. 

Overall, reviewers value its visual and structural boldness, ensemble performances, and emotional restraint—though some caution that its clinical tone may feel cold to certain viewers.

Production Summary

A Lithuania–Latvia co-production filmed in August–September and November–December 2023. Produced by Afterschool (Lithuania) and Trickster Pictures (Latvia), the film was completed in May 2024. 

Production Companies

Afterschool Production (Lithuania), Trickster Pictures (Latvia). 

Sales Summary

Paris-based Alpha Violet handles international sales, positioning the film within festival and arthouse markets.4

Release date on streaming

No streaming release announced; likely to follow post-festival and festival-TV deals in 2025.

Theatrical Release

Premiered August 10, 2024 at the Locarno Film Festival; screened in Lithuanian cinemas from approximately September 20, 2024. 

Why to recommend this movie

• Formally daring: Its fragmented, memory-like structure defies conventional narrative.

• Powerful ensemble: Award-winning performances offer emotional authenticity and restraint.

• Visual subtlety: Long-take cinematography creates intimacy and reflective space.

• Emotional realism: Strikes a balance between trauma’s weight and the resilience in daily life.

Why to watch movie

• Meditation on grief: Offers a thoughtful, slow-burn examination of trauma’s aftermath.

• Narrative innovation: The non-linear structure engages viewers intellectually while emotionally.

• Cinematic craftsmanship: Strong direction, cinematography, and editing unify the vision.

• Cultural lens: Provides insight into Baltic family dynamics and emotional expression.

Movie Trend

Follows the trend of arthouse trauma dramas that adopt fragmented, non-linear storytelling to explore inner psyches and memory—aligned with the work of Haneke, Tsai, and Apichatpong.

Social Trend

Part of the emerging cinematic discourse on mental health and slow emotional recovery, reflecting society's growing respect for trauma-informed storytelling and empathetic pacing.

Final Verdict

Drowning Dry is a visually restrained and emotionally meticulous film that transforms a single family crisis into an evocative exploration of grief, memory, and resilience. Its formal structure and ensemble strength make it a must-watch for those interested in arthouse cinema that lingers quietly, refusing easy closure.

Recommendations for film makers

• Trust formal complexity: Non-linear structures can effectively evoke emotional depth and memory.

• Use visual restraint: Long static takes can heighten psychological atmosphere without overt drama.

• Cast for ensemble chemistry: Strong interplay helps ground fractured narratives in shared emotion.

Recommendations for Movie Industry

• Support festival-driven arthouse: Films like Drowning Dry benefit from early festival honours (Locarno) to reach global audiences.

• Encourage trauma narratives: Storytelling that explores emotional aftermath with reflection, not catharsis, should be championed.

• Strengthen Baltic film networks: Continued Lithuania–Latvia collaborations enhance international visibility.

Final Conclusions

Drowning Dry cements Laurynas Bareiša as a bold European auteur, offering a meditative, emotionally truthful portrait of trauma’s ripple effects. With its elegant restraint and fractured storytelling, it’s a provocative, enduring example of contemporary arthouse filmmaking.