©Courtesy of Kimstim Films
Slow is certainly an apt title for this charming little romcom about a dance instructor and a sign-language interpreter she employs while teaching a class of hearing-impaired teenagers. There is nothing forced or hurried about their relationship, which blossoms naturally as the two explore the limits and horizons of their own choreography in the bedroom and beyond.
Directed by Lithuanian filmmaker Marija Kavtaradzė, Slow won her the Best Director award at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and was a candidate for Best International Feature at the recent 96th Academy Awards competition. The film is a joint production by Lithuanian, Spanish, and Swedish entities.
Though Elena and Dovydas experience a “love at first sight” connection from the very beginning, things get complicated when Dovydas confesses to Elena that he is essentially asexual, which he defines as not being sexually attracted to anyone. This does not, however, derail their relationship, even when it’s tinged by jealousy and hints of infidelity. And, as the camera records their graphic liaisons in the bedroom, it’s clear that hormones are very much a part of the choreography for both of them.
©Courtesy of Kimstim Films
Both protagonists seem ideally suited for their roles in this impressive sophomore film. Greta Grinevičiūtė, who plays Elena, is a noted choreographer in her own right, having directed numerous dance productions in her native Lithuania, where she cofounded the acclaimed B&B dance company. Kęstutis Cicėnas, who plays Dovydas, has appeared as an actor in numerous productions by the Lithuanian Academy of Drama.
The official synopsis for Slow describes the film as one that shows off the director’s “muscular intimacy skills.” Choreography, in other words, is as valuable in the bedroom as on the stage. The synopsis continues by noting how Elena uses “dance, tense quietude, and [a] stunningly singular exploration of asexuality” in order to express what is, ultimately, a raw physicality. By skillfully juxtaposing scenes from Elena’s dance productions into the narrative, the director gives viewers valuable glimpses into the couple’s own dances with desire.
Slow is ultimately a love story, though, which is what gives this sensitively wrought production its lasting appeal. Asked for her motivation in making the film, Marija Kavtaradzė was quoted by Sundance as saying: “Hard to say one, because it was like a puzzle — reading, scrolling, watching films, talking to people. I had topics that interested me, characters that I liked, but didn’t know that they were from the same story. At some point, it all just came together. My biggest desire was to tell a love story.”
©Courtesy of Kimstim Films
Rating: A
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Here’s the trailer of the film.