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The Saint (2017) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The Saint (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 96 mins · Lithuanian
Directed by
Andrius Blaževičius
Starring
Vladimir Dorondov, Marius Repšys, Gelminė Glemžaitė, Artūras Aleksejevas, Valentinas Krulikovskis, Jonas Braškys

Set in a Lithuanian town struggling with the 2008 economic crisis, the film follows Vytas after he loses his factory job. Encouraged by his wife, he begins a fruitless search for employment. Seeking distraction, he pursues a relationship with a local hairdresser, Marija, with similar lack of success. Ultimately, his search turns to a man who posted a video online, claiming to have witnessed Jesus Christ in their town, marking the only endeavor in which Vytas finds what he is looking for.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Characters explained (3)
  2. 2 Where & when it takes place
  3. 3 Themes & meaning (3)
  4. 4 Character & meaning questions
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Every angle

3 main characters · contains spoilers

The Saint Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Saint (2017), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Šventasis — Lukas Malinauskas

    The Saint is a suave, highly capable operative who blends charm with cutting instincts. He foils the terrorist plot, recovers the stolen funds, and leaves his signature calling card. His pursuit is fueled by a personal past tied to his parents’ death, guiding him toward justice rather than revenge.

    • 🛡️ Hero
    • 🕵️‍♂️ Strategist
  • Konsultantas — Vladimir Dorondov

    A cool-headed consultant who operates behind the scenes to shape events and steer the investigation. He is poised, calculating, and ready to manipulate information to advance the plot. His role blurs moral lines as he navigates the procedural landscape of crime and justice.

    • 🧭 Advisor
    • 🕵️‍♀️ Strategist
  • Darbdavys — Darius Mekauskas

    played by Darius Meškauskas

    The Employer, the mastermind orchestrating the chaos that drives the conflict. He pulls strings from the shadows, showing a willingness to sacrifice others for power. His presence reveals the corrupting lure of control and the danger of unchecked ambition.

    • 🎭 Antagonist
    • 🧠 Mastermind

Last updated: March 24, 2026 at 19:58

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Setting

Where and When Does The Saint Take Place?

The setting of The Saint (2017): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Present day

The story takes place in the contemporary era, where real-time information flows and digital transactions shape the crime and investigation. Global finance and security infrastructures set the pace as authorities like the FBI race against time. The stakes are driven by rapid moves of money and rapid leads that must be pursued to prevent catastrophe.

Location

The events unfold across modern urban landscapes—from high-security banks and corporate offices to hurried streets in major cities—where private finance, criminal networks, and law enforcement collide. The setting emphasizes international money flows and cross-border pursuit as investigators close in. The visual backdrop uses sleek cityscapes to contrast wealth with violence and the pursuit of justice.

  • 🌍 Global
  • 🏙️ Urban

Last updated: March 24, 2026 at 19:58

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3 major themes

The Saint Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Saint (2017) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Justice vs Revenge

    The Saint’s mission to recover stolen funds tests whether true justice can be achieved through force or cunning. Personal losses pull him toward revenge, but the narrative ultimately keeps him focused on accountability and restoring balance. The story questions if ends justify means when lives hang in the balance. In the end, justice prevails over revenge.

  • Money and Power

    A vast amount of aid is diverted for criminal purposes, exposing how wealth can corrupt institutions and mobilize danger. The pursuit tracks money through banks and shady networks, revealing the human cost behind financial schemes. Characters weigh ethics against profit as the stakes escalate. The plot suggests money’s influence can threaten global security.

  • Secrets and Identities

    Hidden truths and shifting loyalties push characters to question what is real and who can be trusted. The mastermind’s manipulations and the Saint’s past link together, hinting at a larger conspiracy. Investigators and conspirators alike reveal fragments of a larger story as the nomad remains elusive. Truth emerges only as the web tightens.

Last updated: March 24, 2026 at 19:58

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Character & theme questions

The Saint Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about The Saint (2017): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is The Saint set?

The story unfolds across modern urban landscapes worldwide, from high-security banks and corporate offices to hurried streets in major cities. The setting emphasizes international money flows and cross-border pursuit as investigators close in. The visual backdrop uses sleek cityscapes to contrast wealth with violence and the pursuit of justice.

  • locations
  • setting
  • global
  • cities
  • international
Q2

What time period does the movie take place in?

The story takes place in the contemporary era, where real-time information flows and digital transactions shape the crime and investigation. Global finance and security infrastructures set the pace as authorities like the FBI race against time. The stakes are driven by rapid moves of money and rapid leads that must be pursued to prevent catastrophe.

  • time period
  • present day
  • contemporary
  • modern era
Q3

What is the theme of justice vs revenge in The Saint?

The Saint's mission to recover stolen funds tests whether true justice can be achieved through force or cunning. Personal losses pull him toward revenge, but the narrative ultimately keeps him focused on accountability and restoring balance. The story questions if ends justify means when lives hang in the balance, and in the end, justice prevails over revenge.

  • justice
  • revenge
  • theme
  • morality
  • accountability
Q4

How does money and power drive the plot?

A vast amount of aid is diverted for criminal purposes, exposing how wealth can corrupt institutions and mobilize danger. The pursuit tracks money through banks and shady networks, revealing the human cost behind financial schemes. Characters weigh ethics against profit as the stakes escalate, and the plot suggests money's influence can threaten global security.

  • money
  • power
  • corruption
  • finance
  • crime
Q5

What role do secrets and identities play in the story?

Hidden truths and shifting loyalties push characters to question what is real and who can be trusted. The mastermind's manipulations and The Saint's past link together, hinting at a larger conspiracy. Investigators and conspirators alike reveal fragments of a larger story as The Saint remains elusive, with truth emerging only as the web tightens.

  • secrets
  • identities
  • conspiracy
  • trust
  • mystery
Q6

Who is The Saint in the movie?

The Saint is Šventasis, whose real name is Lukas Malinauskas. He is a suave, highly capable operative who blends charm with cutting instincts. He foils the terrorist plot, recovers the stolen funds, and leaves his signature calling card. His pursuit is fueled by a personal past tied to his parents' death, guiding him toward justice rather than revenge.

  • lukas malinauskas
  • the saint
  • protagonist
  • operative
Q7

Who is the Consultant Vladimir Dorondov?

Vladimir Dorondov is The Consultant, a cool-headed operative who operates behind the scenes to shape events and steer the investigation. He is poised, calculating, and ready to manipulate information to advance the plot. His role blurs moral lines as he navigates the procedural landscape of crime and justice.

  • vladimir dorondov
  • consultant
  • supporting character
  • manipulator
Q8

Who is the Employer Darius Meškauskas?

Darius Meškauskas is known as Darbdavys, the Employer and mastermind orchestrating the chaos that drives the conflict. He pulls strings from the shadows, showing a willingness to sacrifice others for power. His presence reveals the corrupting lure of control and the danger of unchecked ambition.

  • darius mekauskas
  • employer
  • mastermind
  • villain
  • boss
Q9

What genre is The Saint?

The Saint is a drama film set against the backdrop of international finance, terrorism, and crime. The movie features high-stakes action including foiling terrorist plots, a massive theft, a kidnapping, and a race against law enforcement. The tone is consistently tense, driven by an urgent mission and the protagonist's fugitive status.

  • genre
  • drama
  • action
  • thriller
Q10

Does The Saint have a happy ending?

The ending is happy, as the hero successfully rescues hostages, returns the money, and achieves a form of justice. Despite personal losses that pull him toward revenge, he ultimately chooses justice over vengeance. The Saint opts against revenge and instead focuses on accountability and restoring balance.

  • ending
  • resolution
  • happy ending
  • finale

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Saint, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Saint tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about economic desperation like The Saint

Stories of ordinary people pushed to their limits by financial collapse. If you liked the portrayal of post-crisis struggle in The Saint, explore more movies about characters pushed to their limits by unemployment and financial collapse, searching for meaning in a crumbling world.

  • tense
  • bleak
  • gritty
  • desperate
  • grounded
  • social realism
  • Tone: tense, bleak, resolved
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow a protagonist who loses their job or financial security, sending them into a spiral of desperation. The plot is driven by their attempts to find new work, cope with the stress, and often pursue unconventional or even ill-advised avenues to reclaim a sense of purpose or escape their circumstances.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the visceral experience of economic downturn. They connect through a tense, grounded mood, a protagonist driven by desperation, and a setting that feels authentically impacted by larger financial forces.

Movies about fruitless pursuits like The Saint

Character studies where the main quest fails, but a smaller, unexpected victory is found. Discover more films like The Saint where a character's main quest fails, but a smaller, unexpected victory is found. These movies explore the quiet resolutions that come from abandoning a fruitless pursuit.

  • frustrating
  • hopeful
  • bittersweet
  • character study
  • contemplative
  • resigned
  • Tone: tense, bittersweet, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The central narrative pattern involves a protagonist doggedly pursuing a clear objective, only to be met with repeated failure and disappointment. The story arc subverts traditional success narratives by having the character ultimately abandon or fail their initial goal, but in doing so, they stumble upon a different, more meaningful form of closure or personal fulfillment.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their shared narrative structure of failed pursuits and their specific emotional payoff. They offer a more nuanced and realistic view of success, focusing on the bittersweet or quietly happy endings that come from accepting a different path.

Every angle

The Saint (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Saint in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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