Created as a reaction to governmental, legal homophobia in Lithuania, “Porno Melodrama” tells an original story about the dangers of love. Jonas enjoys his life with his boyfriend Matas, but he wants to emigrate from homophobic Lithuania to live in a more gay-friendly country. In order to earn money to leave, Jonas agrees to star in a straight porn film with his ex-girlfriend Akvile. But Akvile still pines for Jonas and that’s where the melodrama begins…. — Romas Zabarauskas
Romas Zabarauskas (born 1990) is part of a new and upcoming generation of Lithuanian film critics and directors. Accredited as a journalist to the Cannes and Berlin film festivals in 2007 and 2010, he also participated in the Berlinale Talent Campus in 2009. “Porno Melodrama” was his first professional short film, a challenge to a homophobic law recently passed in Lithuania. After a premiere at the Berlinale, the film caused a scandal at home and continues to gain recognition abroad. After two years at Saint-Denis Paris VIII, Paris, France, Romas is currently continuing his studies at Hunter College in New York, USA.
