Tepid ‘How to Divorce’ is a split decision
Perhaps it’s due to my analytical ASD brain, but I struggled to understand how the breakup of a married couple in Lithuania parallels Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Heck, it’s not even the same country being violated. Nor does it even border it. Besides, Lithuania is protected by NATO, whereas Ukraine is not. So, I’m at a loss to understand the slobbering masses in their unbridled hosannas being thrust upon Andrius Blaževičius’s mildly entertaining “How to Divorce During the War.” Someone, please explain.
The Vilniusian couple at heart, film director Vytas (Marius Repṥys) and television influencer Marija (Žygimantė Elena Jakṥtaitė), aren’t even the least bit likable. They are self-involved, self-righteous and unflinchingly passive-aggressive. When we meet them, there is no love lost between the two. Even their tween daughter, Dovile (Amelija Adomaityte), reels under the thumb of their toxicity. I found the parents repulsive and utterly cliché, with Marija resorting to the hoariest of break-up lines – “We need to talk” – while preparing to give feckless Vytas the boot.
Suffering from acute writer’s block, Vytas spends his days essentially as a househusband while Marija is the primary breadwinner who feels she’s being taken advantage of. “Is there someone else?” a pathetic Vytas asks. “No,” says a fibbing Marija. But it’s no man; it’s her coworker and underling, Marina (Alla Beneeva). So unprofessional!
Stop me if you’ve heard this scenario a couple of dozen times before, and done better in Oscar-winning films such as “Kramer vs. Kramer,” “Marriage Story” and “A Separation.” But about 30 minutes in, “Divorce During War” starts to get mildly interesting as Marija takes in three members of a Ukrainian refugee family, and Vytas is spurred to activism, creating artful anti-Russian protest films to post on social media.
The irony is that two selfish people are suddenly benevolent. But what are their motives? And how long will this impromptu do-gooder streak last, especially after the friendless Vytas gets evicted from the home of his pro-Russian parents? It all leads to an intensely cynical conclusion that you’ll either find amusing or a tad too on the nose.
Which brings me back to my original point. What does any of this have to do with Russia invading Ukraine? Yes, I understand the fear among the populace that they could be next in Putin’s fiendish plan to get the old Soviet bloc back together again. But it just didn’t register for me.
Nor did Blaževičius’ overfamiliar tale of divorcees acting like children and their traumatized child acting the adult. What comes through, although not nearly enough, is the film’s suggestion that there’s no greater threat to us all than complacency. Just try telling that to all the placates who’d rather remain autonomous than grow a spine. Those are the folks Blaževičius seeks to ridicule. You just wish he did it with a little more hutzpah.
Movie review
How to Divorce During the War
Rated: Not rated
Cast: Žygimantė Elena Jakṥtaitė, Marius Repṥys, Amelija Adomaityte and Alla Bineeva
Director: Andrius Blaževičius
Writer: Andrius Blaževičius
Runtime: 108 minutes
Where: In theaters Aug. 21
Grade: B-
