The 8th Annual New York Baltic Film Festival (NYBFF) presented by Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America returns this November with the best new films from the Baltic region! On November 8, see the North American Premiere of the powerful and tender documentary Murmuring Hearts (Murmančios Širdys, dir. Vytautas Puidokas, Lithuania/France/Norway, 2024). *This screening will be followed by a talk with film director Vytautas Puidokas.*

Matas, a 14-year old foster child, arrives at a Lithuanian rehab-farm where a group of men are recovering from addiction and aggression. Led by the charismatic Žanas, a former addict, the community follows a strict routine—praying, tending to animals, and making cheese—all to escape the troubled cycles of the past. As they work to heal from within, the men must also take responsibility for the boy, slowly but surely becoming problematic and complicated role models. Struggling with his own demons—abandonment, violence and loneliness—Matas evokes their own unresolved emotions, particularly for those who share a similar history. As dynamics shift, the fractured group slowly works through anger to become  a dysfunctional family, bound by their shared struggles. Together, they face the challenge of holding together a community, clinging to the hope of brighter days ahead.

The winner of the Young Europeans Award at International Festival of Audiovisual Programmes (FIPADOC), Murmuring Hearts provides a candid glimpse into masculinity, trauma, and what it takes to heal. (80 min. In Lithuanian with English subtitles)

“A raw portrait of addiction” – Annika Pham, Variety

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