Mushrooming (film)

Mushrooming (Lithuanian: Grybavimas) is a 2013 Lithuanian psychological thriller film directed by Klemensas Kauzonas. The film explores themes of social commentary, fear, and the spread of panic through the story of a politically ambitious intellectual who gets lost in the forest while mushroom picking.

The plot centers around Rokas, a sociologist, who decides to escape Vilnius and go mushroom hunting in the Lithuanian countryside. He encounters a group of local mushroom pickers and, after a misunderstanding and escalating tensions, becomes caught up in a narrative spun by the locals about Chechen terrorists hiding in the woods. This rumor quickly spreads, leading to a state of alarm and escalating fear within the community, highlighting the power of misinformation and the ease with which societal anxieties can be manipulated.

The film utilizes the backdrop of the seemingly idyllic mushroom hunting activity to reveal deeper societal fractures and anxieties prevalent in post-Soviet Lithuania. It is known for its tense atmosphere and exploration of contemporary socio-political issues.