Eisenstein and Latvian Cinema Laila Pakalniņa’S Feature Film Dawn / Sergei Eisenstein

6 12 2 Bridges of time Dita Rietuma 6 Looking for new crossroads Ilze Auzāne 12 Ivars Seleckis. Restless Sanita Grīna 18 Poetry and analysis 30 Daira Āboliņa 24 The triumphant advance of feature-length animation Ieva Viese-Vigula 30 Discovering Latvia’s potential Kristīne Simsone 36 Ambitious amplitude Kristīne Matīsa 42 Traces of Eisenstein Dita Rietuma 48 Facts & Figures 42 Cover: The Pagan King | Nameja gredzens (2018) 2018 Cover photo: Kārlis Dambrāns Publisher: National Film Centre of Latvia Editor: Kristīne Matīsa Peitavas 10, Riga, LV-1050, Latvia Translator: Amanda Jātniece Tel: +371 67358878 Proof-reading: Līga Kriķe [email protected] Designer: Arnis Grinbergs www.nkc.gov.lv 2 || 3 Bridges of time It was a good year, and it will be a good year. The Sun Rides Up Into the Sky (Saule brauca Dita Rietuma This is definitely a good way to sum up the debesīs, dir. Roze Stiebra). Director of the current developments in Latvian cinema. Cinematography’s potential is always National Film Centre of Latvia In 2018 Latvia celebrates its centennial, measured against the versatility of genre with the festivities culminating on and the spectrum of artistic expression and Independence Day (November 18). This authorship found in its audiovisual product, significant anniversary has been crucial to the films created. For many years Latvia’s the recovery of Latvian cinema, which has cinematographic potential was constrained suffered for a long time from a lack of funding. by a lack of funding. Although more funding The additional funding provided through is always welcome in filmmaking, in Latvia the programme Latvian Films for Latvian today there is at least enough to start fulfilling Centenary has resulted in the production of the expectations of a wide range of audiences. 16 feature-length films (six feature films, two For example, The Pagan King (Nameja animation films, eight docudramas), thereby gredzens, dir. Aigars Grauba, prod. Andrejs regaining long-forgotten levels of production Ēķis) had its first showing in January 2018. and intensity of film-making. It is significant The cast includes a number of European that the Centenary Programme’s first film, actors (Edvin Endre of Sweden and James the family-friendly Grandpa More Dangerous Bloor of Great Britain play the main roles), Than a Computer (Vectēvs, kas bīstamāks par and the film’s main language is English. This datoru), became the second-most popular demonstrates the filmmakers’ ambition to film in Latvia, surpassed only by the animated create a historical legend in line with the Hollywood blockbuster Despicable Me 3. current trends in commercial cinema that This film was a good start for the Centenary target both local and international markets. Programme, demonstrating that the Latvian This 2.5-million-euro production is no doubt public appreciates a contemporary film for one of the most ambitious projects in the the whole family. history of Latvian cinema. It is an effort to Following a “warm-up” period in the demonstrate the potential of Latvia’s film second half of 2017 with the premieres of industry, which is currently classified as three films, the Centenary Programme comes “low capacity” in the world of European up to speed this year, when each month will bureaucracy. bring new first showings. Among these are Already a well-known and ambitious film a couple more films for the whole family: producer in Latvia, Ēķis is also known for Paradise ‘89 (Paradīze ’89, dir. Madara Dišlere) his considerable commercial success with and Bille (dir. Ināra Kolmane). Also premiering Swingers, a sitcom-style comedy that was in 2018 are the holocaust drama The Mover one of the most popular films in Latvia in (Tēvs Nakts, dir. Dāvis Sīmanis), the nostalgic 2016/2017. Estonian and Ukrainian versions and bohemian comedy Homo Novus (dir. of the film (likewise directed by Eķis) have also Anna Viduleja) and the historical drama 1906 been produced, with the main roles played (dir. Gatis Šmits). Alongside these also comes by the most popular actors in their respective a versatile programme of documentaries and countries. An “export” of this kind is a first for two artistic feature-length animations: Jēkabs, Latvian cinema, and the films have quickly Mimmi and the Talking Dogs (Jēkabs, Mimmī become commercial successes also in Estonia un runājošie suņi, dir. Edmunds Jansons) and and Ukraine. The development of original cinema is simultaneously one of the main protagonists also extremely important in the European and in Bridges of Time, a film that examines the Latvian cinema traditions. Laila Pakalniņa, phenomenon of Baltic documentary cinema. one of the best-known Latvian directors Bridges is a Baltic co-production, which there internationally, continues her work. Her have been increasingly more of in recent poetic, fragile and meditative documentary years. The film is a good example of effective Hello, Horse! (Zirdziņ, hallo!, 2017) has become collaboration between neighbouring countries. one of the most-travelled and most-requested The role of international cooperation Latvian films at international film festivals. keeps increasing in the Latvian cinema Pakalniņa is the most consistent and radical of industry. In addition to co-productions, a Latvian film writers. In her films she continues cash rebate programme has also been set up. the traditions of Latvian poetic documentary Approximately two million euros are available cinema, which had its beginnings in the 1960s, through the rebate programme, with the funds when filmmakers searched for alternatives to administered by the National Film Centre the officious Soviet documentary cinema. of Latvia and the Riga Film Fund (Riga City Significantly, two films made within Council). In 2018–2019 Latvian producers will the Centenary Programme serve as both be involved in 30 co-productions, 20 of which a reflection on the history of Latvian are minority co-productions. documentary cinema and as proof of its Latvia is a country with fewer than potential in today’s cinema world: To Be two million inhabitants. But its cinema is Continued (Turpinājums) and Bridges of Time becoming increasingly diverse and gradually The meditative documentary (Laika tilti, also known under its working gaining momentum. By the way, did you know Hello, Horse! title Baltic New Wave). In this magazine you that Sergei Eisenstein, that genius of editing (2017) by Laila Pakalniņa has can read about director Ivars Seleckis, the and most radical director of all times, was become one of the patriarch of Latvian documentary cinema, born 120 years ago in the Latvian capital, Riga? most-requested Latvian films at who continues to be in excellent creative form. One can still find places in Riga that reflect his international film He is the director of To Be Continued and creative genius. festivals Latvia is a country with fewer than two million inhabitants. However, its cinema is becoming increasingly diverse and gradually gaining momentum. 4 || 5 he Latvian film industry has prepared a present for everyone in honour Tof our country’s 100th birthday this year: a film programme titled Latvian Films for the Latvian Centenary, organised by the National Film Centre of Latvia. Sixteen feature-length stories – six feature films, eight documentary films and two animation films – that tell about Latvia, its recent and ancient history, its present and also its future. Because our country really does have so much: it has fighters and thinkers, grandfathers and grandchildren, painters and legionnaires, museum artefacts and sacks of Cheka files, mummers and carousels, monuments and bunkers, the last pagans and the first poets, Riga’s suburbs and the border regions, anxious childhood, youthful courage and venerable wisdom... This family portrait of Latvia on its 100th birthday has gathered together film directors and story characters whom you will also meet on the following pages. Gatis Rozenfelds 6 || 7 Looking for new crossroads Ilze Auzāne Toms Harjo LOOking FOR NEW crOssrOads he film production capacity – having three Latvian films and company Tasse Film was three foreign films in production is a kind of founded seven years limit if we don’t want to sacrifice quality,” says ago. At its core were the Bērziņa. two young producers Aija Bērziņa and Alise Ģelze, who had already gained recognition on the international cinema scene. The company’s Tfirst feature-length film was Renārs Vimba’s debut work Mellow Mud / Es esmu šeit (2016), which won the main prize at the Berlin International Film Festival in the Generation Kplus competition. This was already the second Crystal Bear in this competition for Ģelze, who had won it previously as a producer for Jānis Nords’ feature film Mother, I Love You / Mammu, es tevi mīlu (2013). Ģelze and Nords’ second film together, now produced by Tasse Film, came out last November – Foam at the Mouth / Ar putām uz lūpām (2017) is a feature-length film about a former policeman named Didzis, who also trains fighting dogs. In the span of just a few days, Didzis’ life is turned upside down when he suspects his wife of being unfaithful and his beloved dogs become infected with Director Jānis Nords says that acquiring a dangerous disease. Bērziņa comments the rights for Origin of a Species by American “If people on this working together again: “If people screenwriter Matt Gossett was a major successfully manage to go through the successfully manage to go through the process challenge for the producers of his film. process of producing of producing one film, they stay together. It’s Yes, that was a challenge because we had one film, they stay just the same as in personal relationships – not had any previous experience with the together,” believes producer Aija Bērziņa you have to struggle through those first two or acquisition of screenplays. Especially from the (on the right) three years until you’ve got things smoothed United States, where the Screen Writers Guild out and know what to expect.” has very strict guidelines, and we needed a Director Madara Dišlere’s debut film far-sighted plan to get through the process.

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