"We made astonishing and previously unheard-of discoveries. For instance, DNA analysis showed that the pines which arrived in our region after the Ice Age originated from the area between the Black and Mediterranean Seas. This type of complex research is unique not only in Lithuania but throughout the entire Baltic region," reveals Prof. habil. Dr. Vladas Žulkus.
The film merges science and art – it is a scientific documentary enriched with poetic visual storytelling. Underwater footage captured in the Baltic tells not only of tree remnants but also of possible traces of ancient civilizations, ritual stones, and signs of Mesolithic human activity. These are complemented by a unique soundtrack inspired by prehistoric sounds – cries, the clinking of stones, rhythmic beats, and echoes of horns.
“There’s a saying – if you want people to understand science, show it as art. Our goal is for the audience not only to learn but also to feel. To recognize that this sea hides not only nature but also our own memory,” says V. Tamulionytė.
"The Sunken Land" is currently being filmed during Klaipėda University expeditions, at research stations, and in laboratories. Both short and feature-length versions are planned – the creators aim to secure funding from the Lithuanian Film Centre.
“The greatest museum in the world is the seas and oceans,” says Prof. habil. Dr. Vladas Žulkus. This film invites viewers to enter that museum.
You can learn more about the film and its behind-the-scenes process on the Instagram profile: filmas.nuskendusizeme.