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- A Baltic collaboration brings Yasmina Reza's "The God of Carnage" to life with simultaneous shoots in Vilnius,offering a darkly comedic exploration of modern relationships.
- Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia are jointly producing adaptations of Yasmina Reza's critically acclaimed play, "The God of Carnage," wich holds a Guinness World Record as the most performed...
- Production is being handled by Centaur Films (Latvia), Apollo Film Productions (Estonia), and Filmai LT (Lithuania).
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Latvian,Lithuanian,and Estonian Co-Production Adapts Globally Recognized Play for the Screen
Table of Contents
A Baltic collaboration brings Yasmina Reza‘s “The God of Carnage” to life with simultaneous shoots in Vilnius,offering a darkly comedic exploration of modern relationships.
About the Film
Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia are jointly producing adaptations of Yasmina Reza’s critically acclaimed play, “The God of Carnage,” wich holds a Guinness World Record as the most performed French play worldwide Guinness World Records. The Baltic versions promise a witty and darkly humorous take on the play’s themes,delving into the complexities and hidden secrets within contemporary relationships. The unique co-production involved filming all three national versions concurrently, utilizing identical sets in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Production is being handled by Centaur Films (Latvia), Apollo Film Productions (Estonia), and Filmai LT (Lithuania). The simultaneous production approach is designed to highlight both the shared cultural nuances and the distinct national perspectives on the story.
The Premise: A Dinner Party Gone Awry
The narrative unfolds during a dinner party held on the night of a full moon eclipse.Seven long-time friends gather, and a seemingly innocuous game is proposed: each person must place their mobile phone on the table and openly share all incoming calls and messages. This initial act of openness quickly spirals into a revealing and perhaps destructive game, exposing deeply guarded secrets and testing the boundaries of their friendships.
Cast and Creative Vision
The Latvian adaptation features a prominent cast of local actors, including Dartas Danevičas, Daina Grūbs, Intars Rešetina-Pētersonas, Linda Kalniņa, Mārtiņš egliens, Jānis Āmans, Aneta kursīte, and Santa Breikša. Director Intars Rešetins-Petersson describes the story as “a mirror image of today’s values that each of us chooses to live by,” emphasizing the game’s role as a crucible for testing the strength of relationships and individual convictions.
Filmmakers anticipate a blend of sharp dialog and uncomfortable, yet humorous, situations. The adaptation aims to resonate with audiences by exploring global themes of honesty, deception, and the fragility of social connections in the digital age.
“The God of Carnage”: A Brief History
Yasmina Reza’s “The God of Carnage” (originally titled “Le Dieu du Carnage” in French) premiered in 2006 and quickly gained international acclaim. The play centers on two sets of parents who meet to discuss a violent altercation between their children. What begins as a polite attempt at conflict resolution devolves into a chaotic and brutally honest confrontation, exposing the hidden aggressions and hypocrisies beneath the veneer of civilized behavior.
The play won a Tony Award for Best Play in 2009 and has been translated into over 45 languages. Its enduring popularity stems from its relatable themes and its ability to provoke uncomfortable but necessary conversations about parenting, social norms, and the darker aspects of human nature.The 2011 film adaptation, “Carnage,” directed by Roman Polanski and starring Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, Jodie Foster, and John C. Reilly, further cemented the play’s cultural impact