The Jump

Local title
Hüpe
Original title
The Jump
Director
Giedrė Žickytė
Country
Lithuania
Year
2020
Programme
Baltic Film Competition

What will you sacrifice for freedom? In 1970 ordinary Lithuanian sailor Simas Kudirka jumped from Russian ship to US Coast Guard cutter with strong hope for a political asylum. Courageous attempt to run away made him a political prisoner with 10 years sentence in Siberian gulag for treason. Later on his fate was overseen by two USA Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Actor Alan Arkin played brave Lithuanian in 1978 American TV thriller "The Defection of Simas Kudirka", while information about sensational events were blocked by Soviet regime.

Fascinated by unheard story Giedrė Žickytė tracked down Simas Kudirka and invited him to relive incredible adventure in the same ship (it took 1,5 years for permission). Uplifting historical thriller offers rare historical footage, interviews with participants and witnesses, such as Henry Kissinger.

Edvinas Pukšta

Director
Giedrė Žickytė
Screenwriter
Giedre Zickyte
Cast
Simas Kudirka, Ralph W. Eustis, Paul E. Pakos, Vytautas Urbonas, Daiva Kezys
Producer
Giedrė Žickytė, Uldis Cekulis
DoP
Rimvydas Leipus Lac
Art director
Ramune Liepaite, Ramunas Rastauskas
Editor
Thomas Ernst, Danielius Kokanauskis
Music
Kipras Masanauskas
Production
Moonmakers, VFS Films
Runtime
Language
Lithuanian
Subtitles
English
Trailer
Q&A with the filmmaker