The newly released trailer and poster for Drowning Dry offer the first glimpse into Laurynas Bareiša's haunting exploration of trauma and family bonds. The film, which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival (where it won Best Director and Best Ensemble) and was selected as Lithuania's official submission for the 2025 Oscars, uses striking visuals and an eerie atmosphere to pull viewers into its unsettling world.
The Trailer: A Masterclass in Tension
The official trailer opens with idyllic scenes of a lakeside family getaway—laughter, swimming, and celebration. But the tone quickly shifts as the specter of dry drowning (a rare but terrifying phenomenon where water in the lungs causes delayed suffocation) looms over the narrative. Brief flashes of panic, repeated scenes with slight variations, and an increasingly dissonant soundtrack create a sense of dread and disorientation, mirroring the film's themes of trauma and fractured memory.
Key moments teased in the trailer:
- The sisters (Gelminė Glemžaitė and Agnė Kaktaitė) arguing over finances, their tension palpable.
- A child disappearing underwater, followed by frantic resuscitation attempts.
- The same events repeating with unsettling differences—a hallmark of Bareiša's nonlinear storytelling.
The trailer's editing and sound design are deliberately jarring, leaving viewers with more questions than answers—a fitting preview for a film that plays with perception and memory.
The Poster: Stark and Symbolic
The official poster is equally evocative. A lone figure stands at the edge of a lake, their reflection distorted in the water—an immediate visual metaphor for the film's themes of uncertainty and psychological unraveling. The muted color palette (cold blues and washed-out greens) reinforces the film's bleak, atmospheric tone, while the tagline—“Some wounds never surface”—hints at the hidden traumas the story explores.
Why This Matters
Drowning Dry isn't just another family drama. Its unique structure, inspired by the concept of dry drowning, sets it apart from conventional narratives. The trailer and poster perfectly capture this uneasy, repetitive tension, promising a film that lingers long after viewing.
Where to Watch
The film opens in U.S. theaters on July 18, with special Q&A screenings in New York (IFC Center) and Los Angeles (Laemmle Theaters).
