Present-day Vilnius, Lithuania. 29-year-old Ilona feels the pressure to be settled and successful by the time she turns 30. At this turning point in her life, she begins to question how she truly wants to live. She moves into a seemingly perfect apartment with her boyfriend. But as the building’s renovation begins, it’s not just cracks in the walls that are revealed – Ilona’s inner doubts also start to surface. She strikes up an unexpected friendship with Oleg, a Ukrainian construction worker. Their connection deepens her uncertainty: does she really want to settle down and start a family?
“I was writing this film while approaching 30, but feeling that the things I planned to achieve – having my own home, a family, being settled and fulfilled – still were far away. In Renovation, I wanted to capture this feeling, the complexity of this age. On one hand, you’re still very young, you can change your mind about your career, partner, or lifestyle. On the other hand, you start realizing that there’s not enough time to try everything – that you have to make choices. In today’s fast-paced, high-pressure world, whatever choice you make, it’s becoming harder and harder to feel fulfilled and good enough.” (Gabrielė Urbonaitė)
Gabrielė Urbonaitė
Born in 1993, Vilnius, Lithuania. She holds a BFA in Film from Boston’s Emerson College and an MFA in Screenwriting & Directing from Columbia University. She directed several shorts, most notably The Swimmer that won the Silver Crane, Lithuania’s National Film Award. Renovation is her debut feature film.