TICKET TO TAJ MAHAL (Biletas Iki Taj Mahal) (1991) - ♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Algimantas Puipas

Written by - Rimantas Savialis

Starring - Povilas Stankus, Ilona Balsyte, Saulius Kizas

"Lithuanian cinema is arguably among the underrated and most underappreciated in Europe, and TICKET TO TAJ MAHAL by ALGIMANTAS PUIPAS shows that it was full of exciting invetiveness and experimentation. 

The film revolves around the patriarch of family living in a rural lithuanian town oppressed by its authorities. All kinds of territorials injustices take place around him, but he seems to have a passive air about them and is driven by one mysterious, and incredibly dangerous goal - a trip to the Taj Mahal. 

The allegorical power of the film is quite evident in this film that at the end of the Communist rule. The tone of the film is sarcastic and satirical, but somewhat fuelled by indignantion. The villains in the film do, occasionally, feel cartoonish in their lack of remorse, but this is a testimony to the fact that PUITA in TICKET TO TAJ MAHAL has legitimate ambitions of pushing the conventional boundaries of cinema. 

The interesting film also feels quite sinister, due to the saturation of the colours of the film, darker in tone and grittier than the average black and white cinematography. It's a fascinating watch that descends into darker areas as it progresses, and even its sense of humour sometimes conceals a more frightening enhanced observation on a real issue."

Soviet Union, Drama