Former lovers Kostas (Bruce Ross) and Dima (Jamie Day) reconnect in New York decades after they last saw one another while serving in the Soviet army together. Kostas is Lithuanian-American and Dima is Russian-Lithuanian and they fell in love when they met in the 80s. Kostas left Lithuania, and Dima, behind to study in New York and pursue his dreams of being a writer. His latest book, based on their separation, draws Dima to New York and rehashes old wounds that have never truly healed.
‘The Writer’ is from film-maker Romas Zabarauskas, who says he was inspired to make the film following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. That conflict has divided opinion across the world with people choosing a side, and arguing passionately for their perspective to be heard. It’s easy to see how that war provided source material for ‘The Writer’, which is essentially a two-hander between two men who once meant a lot to each other but have found their politics and beliefs growing apart as the years have gone on. Much of the film takes place in Kostas’ apartment and Zabarauskas focuses primarily on the dialogue that unfolds between the two men.
Over the film’s near 90-minute run-time, the two men mine a series of topics as they navigate their way back to one another. What begins as a cordial exchange full of nostalgia, soon turns into something very different as the men passionately back-and-forth with one another, often disagreeing. From discussing their feelings about their heritage and nationality, through to the differences between the right and the left in politics, they leave no stone unturned. Dima’s bisexuality is put into focus when the men start to discuss the breakdown of their past relationship, and despite the anger and frustration that has festered between them, there’s a possibility that love still exists.
With the film being a two-hander, it lies solely on the shoulders of its lead actors. Both Jamie Day and Bruce Ross give solid performances, but for me Jamie Day edges it with a more emotionally fine-tuned performance. Ross’ portrayal of Kostas often comes across as matter-of-fact and cold, whereas Day gives Dima a range of emotions to explore across the film. Viewers will be drawn to different aspects of each character, whether it’s their politics they agree with or their outlook on life.
Whilst the film does cover a lot of topics, it doesn’t always do so with the conviction and depth that would have benefitted it. There’s some good dialogue in there about the persecution of gay people at the time the main characters were having a secret relationship, but the discussion around the perception of Russia in the modern world feels a little under-developed. Each of the men is painted a little too obviously too in terms of who is the good one and who is the bad one, and it would have been more intriguing for that to be less obvious and the audience to have to work a little harder to make up their own minds.
‘The Writer’ is an interesting little film that serves to provoke thought and wider discussion. It just about manages to steer clear of being overly preachy, and given that Kostas and Dima have such differing opinions, the film doesn’t feel like it’s pushing one point of view over another. As a film it’s fairly slow-moving and it may not be to everyone’s taste, but I can imagine this translating well as a stage show where audiences expect heavier dialogue and a slower pace.
Cast: Jamie Day, Bruce Ross Director: Romas Zabarauskas Writers: Marc David Jacobs, Anastasia Sosunova, Arturas Tereskinas, Romas Zabarauskas Certificate: Unrated Duration: 86 mins Released by: Dekkoo Release date: 16th January 2025
 and Dima (Jamie Day) reconnect in New York decades after they last saw one another while serving in the Soviet army together.){kind=link}