The Man and the City

Viewers are immersed in the unique world of Kaunas architect Jurgis Rimvydas Palys (1941–2025), a man blessed with many talents and no shortage of diverse pursuits. It is a vibrant retrofuturistic vision of the city, where steamboats glide along the rivers, airplanes carve through the sky, and colorful social life bustles tirelessly along the riverbanks. “The film is an invitation to embark on a journey through Palys’ city, to see it through his eyes and hear his thoughts. Perhaps even to look at very ordinary, everyday places in a slightly different way,” says director Emilija Martinkevič. The film’s fast pace, set in motion by opening scenes from the successful exhibition at the Kaunas Picture Gallery, is sustained and its atmosphere shaped by the charismatic personalities of the two architects, archival footage from different periods, architectural imagery, and a soundtrack that organically complements the visual language. Architect Audrys Karalius, who occasionally appears alongside the protagonist in the frame, seems to give voice to and give meaning to the ongoing dialogue taking place in the creative realm.

Audrys Karalius – a renowned architect, publisher, and public figure. The buildings he designed and his public activities contribute to the contemporary image of Kaunas. Together with architectural historian Almantas Bružas, he organized the “Year of the Palio” series of events in 2023–2024, which culminated in the exhibition “The City of the Palio: 7 Dimensions of Identity” at the Kaunas Picture Gallery.

Emilija Martinkevič is an architect and urban planner who explores the connections between architecture, the city, and cinema in her creative work. Her interest in cinema stemmed from a desire to view architecture beyond the boundaries of traditional design, seeking other ways to observe, understand, and interpret the city and the relationship between people and their surroundings.