JOHATSU (2024) by Lina Lužytė, Nerijus Milerius
Drama Thriller 83' Lithuania

Festivals Scandinavian Premiere - Blue Sea FF 25 North American Premiere - Scary Movies XIII 25 WP - Tallinn Black Nights 2024


The Japanese phenomenon of deliberate disappearance in a chilling Lithuanian thriller.

Unsettled by the comportment of a dead man’s wife when she comes to identify the body, a Vilnius morgue worker launches an informal investigation hoping to make sense of her own suspicions.

Documentary filmmaker Nerijus Milerius (“Exemplary Behaviour”) invited his former student Lina Luzyte (“Together Forever”, “The Castle”) to direct this narrative psychological thriller while investigating Japanese disappearances. Cinematographer Vytautas Katkus (Locarno winner “Toxic”) captures the dark subject matter perfectly, jumping between moving cars and shooting in time-lapse.

Zygimante Jakstaite (“Runner”) plays Lina, a Vilnius morgue medic who becomes fascinated by the mysterious disappearance of a sailor named Vilkas (Wolf). Her obsession leads her to eerie places and disturbing encounters. The clock is ticking as Lina searches for the missing man.

“Distinctive and atmospheric work”
– Screen

“Raw and visceral”
- Dmovies

Written & Directed by
Lina Lužytė, Nerijus Milerius

CAST
Žygimantė Elena Jakštaitė
Laurynas Jurgelis
Valentinas Krulikovskis
Rasa Samuolytė
Dainius Gavenonis
Mindaugas Papinigis
Aleksas Kazanavičius
Martynas Nedzinskas
Valentin Novopolskij

Produced by
Uljana Kim

Cinematography by
Vytautas Katkus

Music by
Antanas Jasenka