Lithuanians fighting through the crisis may be able to relate to the stories of these foreign-born Irish boxers in Whitaker's "Saviours." Image used courtesy of the Irish Cinema Days.

VILNIUS — The first time I saw an Irish film, I was impressed. It was “Evelyn” featuring Pierce Brosnan and thankfully he was speaking in his native accent rather than the fake British one he used while busy killing Russians as 007.

After that, I really started to appreciate Irish cinema and discovered films like “Michael Collins,” “Angela’s Ashes” and of course, “The Commitments.”

Following the footsteps of Irish beer and pubs, which are already popular in Lithuania, Irish cinema is attempting to gain a foothold in Vilnius with the film festival Irish Cinema Days, a part of the Irish embassy’s cultural program.

The embassy told Baltic Reports that it was an appropriate way to show Irish culture in Lithuania. If the festival is popular, the embassy has promised to repeat it next year.

Three films will be shown at the Lithuanian Filmmakers Union free of charge and will have Lithuanian subtitles.

Lithuanian Filmmakers Union, Vasario 16-osios g. 13 / Šermukšnių g. 1

The films

Saviours directed by Liam Nolans Ross Whitaker
Friday, November 20, at 6 p.m.
Ireland, 2008, 78 minutes, documentary

A gripping documentary following three young boxers from the same Dublin boxing club, St. Saviours Olympic Boxing Academy. The club is a safe haven amongst the dangerous flats of Dublin’s north inner city, where, under the guidance of the club’s canny coaches, three boxers fight for a better life both inside and outside the ring. The film follows Abdul, an asylum seeker from Ghana, whose toughest fight lies outside the ring as he battles to stay in Ireland. Dean, a local lad from the flats fights to overcome injury in order to fulfill his goal of winning an Olympic gold. And Darren, a young man of Irish-Caribbean parentage and the club’s best talent, struggles desperately to choose between boxing and his university studies.

The Front Line directed by David Gleeson
Saturday, November 21, at 5 p.m.
Ireland, Germany, UK, Sweden, 2006, 93 minutes, criminal drama

Joe Yumba a musician from the Democratic Republic of Congo, receives the news he has been waiting for – His application for asylum has been successful. He has leave to stay in the country. When his wife and child join him, Joe has good reason to feel happy. His happiness is short lived. On his way home from his job as a Security Guard in the bank where he now works he is manhandled into the back of a van. Inside, a group of gangland heavies, working for Eddie Gilroy — Dublin’s most notorious crime boss — make him an offer he can’t refuse. They want access to the bank where Joe works. To ensure Joe’s assistance, his wife and son have been kidnapped and are being held hostage until after the job. Tonight…

32A directed by Marian Quinn
Sunday, November 22, at 3 p.m.
Ireland, 2007, 95 minutes, romantic comedy

This semi-autobiographical story by director Marian Quinn is set in Dublin during 1979 and depicts the “in-between” time of a girl’s life, when she is no longer a child and not yet a woman. We open with our heroine, Maeve, putting on her first bra, size 32A, and stepping out into the world as a young woman. This “in-between” time is full of worries and difficulties, from nuns to parents and boys to bras. An encounter with Brian Power, the local heart throb, sets her on a collision course with her friends and family. Will Maeve be able to make the right choices?