Elze Is Gilijos

2000
2h 15m

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

287

YOUR RATING

Drama Romance

At the end of the 19th century, proud but poor fisherman Jurgaitis gets imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. His beautiful daughter Elze is sent to live with rich German merchant Michae... Read allAt the end of the 19th century, proud but poor fisherman Jurgaitis gets imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. His beautiful daughter Elze is sent to live with rich German merchant Michael. There she falls for his son Endrik.At the end of the 19th century, proud but poor fisherman Jurgaitis gets imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. His beautiful daughter Elze is sent to live with rich German merchant Michael. There she falls for his son Endrik.

Director
- Algimantas Puipa
Writers
- Ernst Wiechert
- Vytautas Zalakevicius
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

287

YOUR RATING

Director
- Algimantas Puipa
Writers
- Ernst Wiechert
- Vytautas Zalakevicius
Stars

4User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
Was only one of three Lithuanian films produced in 1999.

User reviews4

Review

Featured review

Janina Lapinskaite as a director

Having seen two short films, both directed by Janina Lapinskaite, I'm starting to think that she might be the greatest director on Earth. If you think ELZE IS GILIJOS is enchanting and brilliant, try Lapinskaite's other short film, THE LIFE OF ELVES -- it's a masterpiece. You'll be mesmerized.

I know that I should be offering my opinion on ELZE in this forum, but I am forced to concentrate on the brilliance of Lapinskaite's direction. Anyone who sees The Life of Elves will be haunted by the stark images of the elderly dwarf carrying the family's daily chicken dinner to the chopping block, and the haggard family digging on their hands and knees in search of a potato or two. Watching the the three, elderly, elfish siblings sitting awestruck around the ancient television waiting for the weather report and hoping for Spring is strangely not so tragic.

What would this director do with a big budget? It boggles the mind. I can't describe this director by comparing her to anyone -- maybe Diane Arbus -- but in essence she is peerless.

Damien