The film is a satirical take on the pre-war militarization of Lithuania and is notable as the country’s first color film. In two neighboring enemy states, Centia and Groshia, live Zigmas and Jadzė, who are deeply in love. Despite the tension between their countries, they secretly meet, helped by border guards who look identical on both sides. One morning, Major Varnalėša of Groshia accidentally falls into a sewer. He blames Zigmas and Jadzė for the incident, turning a trivial accident into a pretext for yet another military conflict between the two nations.
Video restoration: UAB Madstone
Audio restoration: Sigitas Mickis
CLASSICAL FILM SELECTION
MARCH! MARCH! TRA-TA-TA!
English title:
March! March! Tra-ta-ta!
Original title:
Marš, marš! Tra-ta-ta!
Director:
Raimondas Vabalas
Country:
Lithuania, USSR
Genre:
fiction
Year:
1964
Length:
78’
Cast:
Leonas Stanevičius, Valdas Mykolas Jatautis, Birutė Žibaitė, Donatas Banionis, Henrika Hokušaitė, Gediminas Karka, Petras Žindulis, Giršas Šarfšteinas, Rimantas Siparis, Stasys Paska, Boleslovas Juškevičius, Vladimir Glukhov
A quote for the film:
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Selective list of festivals and awards:
While the film itself is considered a significant piece of Lithuanian cinema from that era, it was produced during the Soviet period and was not a recipient of international "awards" in the conventional modern sense.
Director’s bio:
Raimondas Vabalas (1937–2001) was born in Paris, France, but became one of the most important figures in Lithuanian cinema. He was a highly talented student of the renowned Soviet film theorist and director Lev Kuleshov, whose ideas on montage and cinematic language deeply influenced his work. Vabalas directed films such as Birželio pradžia (1969), Mainai (1977), and Marš, marš! Tra-ta-ta! (1964), developing a distinct artistic voice shaped by social and historical realities. He passed away in Vilnius in 2001, leaving behind a significant legacy in Lithuanian filmmaking.
