"Lily Forever" - a drama by the Swedish director Lucas Mudisson, released in 2002. This is a gloomy picture that tells the story of a 16-year-old girl who was abandoned by her mother in an unnamed former Soviet republic. In Russia, the picture came out under the name "Lily forever." The tape is based on the real story of the Lithuanian girl Danguole Rasalait, who ended up in sexual slavery in Sweden. As a result, she committed suicide.
Plot
The painting "Lilya Forever" begins with a scene in which the main character runs along the street, appears on the bridge, on which she stands on the railing. After that, the action is transferred to the past.
Viewers get acquainted with the mother of a minor Lily, who is leaving with her rich fiancé in the USA, leaving her daughter alone in Lithuania. Lily becomes her guardian aunt. She relocates the girl to a wretched apartment, citing the fact that none of them are able to pay utility bills. Soon, Lilya finds out that her mother sent a letter from the USA in which she refuses her daughter.
A friend named Natasha persuades Lilia to engage in prostitution, but she refuses. But at this moment, Natasha’s father finds the money that her daughter earned on the panel. Frightened by him, she lies that it’s cash Lily. The reputation of a prostitute is assigned to the main character.
Downhill
Further in the film "Lilya Forever" the life of the main character goes on an inclined path. She drops out of school, and when she realizes that there are no other options for earning money, she actually begins to engage in prostitution. Upon learning of this, a company of guys who were just recently her friends rape her one night.
The only friend of the heroine of the film "Lily Forever" remains a classmate Volodya, also rejected by everyone around him. He does not despise the girl, young people have a tender relationship. But soon in the life of the heroine of the film, a charming guy Andrei appears, who, she thinks, has fallen in love with her. He calls Lily with him to Sweden, promising work and a happy life.
The girl agrees. She is not embarrassed that Andrey offers her to go picking vegetables in the winter, she must fly on a fake passport, and the guy at the last moment refuses to fly, saying that his grandmother is sick. After her departure Volodya ends up by drinking pills.
In captivity
Abroad, the main character of the film "Lily Forever" meets a friend of Andrei, who turns out to be a pimp. In a locked apartment, he rapes her. The girl finds herself in a hopeless situation, she is used as a prostitute.
The only outlet are the dreams in which Volodya is her. After one of these dreams, she rereads to the client, for which he brutally rapes her. After Lilya is beaten by a pimp when she tries to escape from his car.
When the girl comes to, she discovers that her rapist has not locked the door. Lily goes outside. She ends up on the bridge and climbs onto the railing. Jumping down, doctors are trying to resuscitate her.
The picture ends with a scene in which Lily plays basketball with Volodya on the roof of the house, and behind them at that moment white wings shine.
Real prototype
Director Lucas Mudisson made the film "Lily Forever" based on a true story. She happened in a 16-year-old Lithuanian girl named Danguole Rasalayte. The picture is mainly based on her biography.
Danguole grew up in Lithuania. Her mother actually left for the United States, promising to pick her up as soon as the girl turns 16. By that time, she left home, got in touch with a dubious company, led a dissolute life.
An acquaintance who really promised her a job at a vegetable base took her to Sweden. Escaping from the pimp, Danguole settled in with a friend who was either Macedonian or Bosnian. On January 7, 2000, she ran away from home, because the day before they had a fight. On the same day, Danguole jumped from the automobile bridge to Krusegatan. The police decided that it was suicide, although witnesses claimed that some girl was spinning around.
Queen of Sweden Sylvia in 2006 remembered the death of Rasalayte, protesting violence against women.
The role of Lily was performed by Russian actress Oksana Akinshina. This was her second movie role. The year before, Oksana made her debut in the title role in the dramatic action movie Sergei Bodrov Jr., "Sisters."
Reviews
The film "Lily forever" reviews gathered mostly positive. Fans of the picture note that this is a rigid tape that catches. Having tried to put themselves in the place of the main character, critics emphasize that the realization is coming that she simply had no other way out in any of the situations described. Finding himself without money, food, or the support of his family, Lily meets a sweet young man whom he immediately begins to trust. But he betrays her, just like most people who come across her life path.
Throughout the film, I want to believe that the heroine will be able to escape and get out of this hopeless situation.
Mudisson’s tape was very talented. As noted in the reviews by her fans, she did not fall into wide distribution, was shown only at closed screenings, festivals and special film awards. Everyone should watch this film; he will not leave anyone indifferent.
Actress Akinshina, for whom this is only her second film job, deserves special praise. At the time of filming, she was 15 years old, almost as much as her heroine.
Now Akinshina has already become a popular domestic actress. On her account, several dozens of roles in cinema and theater.
The picture was nominated for an Oscar from Sweden in the nomination "Best Film in a Foreign Language", but did not get on the final short list. With this tape, they managed to win at numerous European competitions and festivals. In particular, she became the winner of the Stockholm festival, the competition of the Scandinavian cinema in Rwanda.
Negative opinions
Those who did not like the film note that there is a weak musical series that does not correlate with what is happening on the screen.
Many noted a non-exciting plot, not impressive costumes and scenery, the lack of meaning in the film. And also the fact that in the end there is no moralizing, the tape does not teach anything, does not call for anything. It is worth recognizing that those who did not like the film are a significant minority.