Two sisters gather with their husbands and children to head for a weekend at a peaceful country house. While the women dance to ‘90s pop music and the men posture their masculine bravado, the children are eager to go for a swim in the nearby lake. Brimming tension erupts as a horrific accident occurs, and what was supposed to be a relaxing holiday turns into a family tragedy and changes their lives forever. Winner of the Venice Orizzonti in 2021, Laurynas Bareiša’s sophomore feature film is meticulously structured. He stuns the audience with a narrative twist coming out of nowhere, and reveals what happened then only after contrasting with what is now. As suggested by the title Drowning Dry, the blink of an eye misfortune leading to the eventual failure of the sisters’ marital relationship is a delayed process, and the wounds sustained may take a longer time to grieve and heal. (Karen PARK)