The story follows Stepas (Marius Repšys), a rebellious street racer and brawler from the wrong side of the tracks, and Gabrielė (Džiugas Siaurusaitis), a sweet, upper-class photography student who lives by her mother’s rules. After a chance encounter, they collide in every sense of the word. Their relationship is a whirlwind of reckless motorbike rides, forbidden meetings, jealous exes, and the constant threat of violence. The title refers to the couple’s blissful escape—a feeling of being “three meters above the sky” when they are together, untouchable by the world below. Naturally, their paradise is fragile, and tragedy looms.
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5)
In 2019, Lithuanian cinema attempted to capture the lightning-in-a-bottle magic of Federico Moccia’s infamous Italian teen romance Tre metri sopra il cielo with its local adaptation, Trys metrai virš dangaus (Three Meters Above the Sky). Directed by Ramūnas Rudokas, the film transplants the story of forbidden, passionate, and destructive first love from the sun-drenched streets of Rome to modern-day Vilnius. For fans of the original or the 2010 Spanish remake, this version will feel immediately familiar—perhaps too familiar. While it boasts competent cinematography and a game young cast, it struggles to justify its own existence beyond a localized cover version of a song we’ve already heard too many times. filmas trys metrai virs dangaus
Where the film succeeds is in its visual identity. Cinematographer Narvydas Naujokas makes Vilnius feel moody, romantic, and gritty all at once. The nighttime street races, the cobblestones of Užupis, and the melancholic rain-soaked alleys give the story a distinct sense of place. It’s refreshing to see a Lithuanian commercial film that doesn’t shy away from urban grit. The story follows Stepas (Marius Repšys), a rebellious
Furthermore, the film’s central relationship is problematic in ways the script never fully critiques. Stepas is possessive, aggressive, and gets into a fistfight at nearly every opportunity. Gabrielė’s “transformation” from a good girl to a rebellious lover is portrayed as romantic, but the power imbalance is uncomfortable. The film mistakes toxicity for passion. In 2019 (and certainly in retrospect), a story where the hero’s idea of love involves punching other men and dictating who his girlfriend can see feels dated and irresponsible. The title refers to the couple’s blissful escape—a