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The Saint

Name: The Saint
Director: Andrius Blaževičius
Released: 2017
Duration: 96 min

Representation Score

4.8/10

Fair

2017

Director

Andrius Blaževičius

Runtime

96 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Saint anchors its narrative in the specific economic realities of a Lithuanian town during the 2008 crisis. Vytas’s journey through job loss and spiritual searching provides a grounded look at post-Soviet hardship. The film treats faith as a personal quest rather than rigid dogma, adding depth to the protagonist’s internal conflict. Gender dynamics remain traditional, with men holding primary decision-making power in both domestic and public spheres. While women like Juratė and Marija are active participants in Vytas’s life choices, the narrative structure keeps the focus firmly on the male experience. This perspective limits the scope of the story’s social commentary. The cast reflects the homogeneous nature of the provincial setting, with no significant representation of racial, ethnic, or disability diversity. The absence of LGBTQ+ identities further narrows the range of human experiences explored. The film succeeds as a character study but remains limited in its broader representational scope.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Saint have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film contains no LGBTQ+ characters or same-sex romance. The story centers on Vytas’s heterosexual pursuits and family dynamics. Non-heteronormative identities are neither depicted nor discussed.

How does The Saint portray gender?

Fair

Vytas drives the plot through his job and relationship searches. His wife pushes him toward action, while Marija serves as a romantic interest. Men hold primary decision-making power in the household and public sphere.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Saint?

Limited

The cast is entirely Lithuanian, reflecting the film’s provincial setting. No non-white characters appear in significant roles. The story centers on local economic struggles without exploring cross-cultural dynamics.

How does The Saint represent religion and culture?

Good

The film portrays the 2008 economic crisis as a systemic failure affecting ordinary workers. Faith is explored through Vytas’s search for a man who claims to have seen Jesus. Traditional family structures are shown under financial strain.

Does The Saint include disability representation?

Minimal

No characters with physical or mental disabilities appear in the film. The narrative does not address disability as a lived condition or plot element. All characters are depicted as able-bodied.

Present on Screen

Authentic depiction of post-Soviet economic hardship and its impact on ordinary workers.
Faith is treated as a personal quest rather than dogma, adding nuance to the plot.
Women are active participants in the protagonist’s life choices, not passive observers.

Limited or Absent

Cast lacks racial and ethnic diversity, reflecting the homogeneous provincial setting.
No representation of LGBTQ+ identities or relationships in the narrative.
Disability is entirely absent from the narrative and character development.

Official Synopsis

Lithuanian provincial town is facing the economic crisis in 2008. Vytas gets fired from the factory. Pushed by his wife, he immediately starts looking for a new job, but not really successfully. After having his haircut done, Vytas starts looking for a new love affair with a hairdresser Marija, but not really successfully, either. Finally, Vytas gets involved into a third search - he starts looking for a guy who posted video on youtube, claiming he saw Jesus Christ in their town. This is the only time he succeeds.

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