Lithuania

Like their video on Lithuania's capitol, Vilnius: The Symbol of a New Europe (VL-3/00), Vilnius on Video's Lithuania assumes much more familiarity with this Baltic state than is warranted, plunging in with no maps, or any orientation whatsoever. Not only do most viewers not know exactly where Lithuania is located, but when the narrator says things like "nothing is as beautiful as the quaint town of Druzkiningkingkinad" I know I can only envision myself wandering on the tundra in my underwear, with a machete, lost. On the plus side, Lithuania (whose government has laws on the books protecting bees) does have some interesting attractions, including a horse museum and a vast hill covered in Christian crosses, but--unfortunately--the filmmakers don't linger on these items, preferring instead to race on to academic discussions of the local rulers, such as Algirdas Brazauskas, Kestutis Sadauskas, and Vytautus Landsbergis, as well as lots of shots of buildings and statues. While beautifully filmed, overall, this is far too academic and insensitive to the interests and knowledge-level of the audience. Not a necessary purchase. Aud: C, P. (R. Ray)