LATVIAN CLASSICS

A unique opportunity to see the classics of Latvian cinema. Janis Abele, who is a part of this year’s jury panel at LFF, has selected 5 favorite films from his country. The selection is organised in cooperation with the Latvian National Film Center.

Ten Minutes Older, dir. Herz Frank (LSPR) 1978, 10’, 13+

We observe children watching a puppet show. The camera is focused on their faces all the time. What emotions are they experiencing?

Is It Easy to Be Young?, dir. Juris Podnieks (LSPR) 1986, 83’, 15+

A picture of latvian youth living in the Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic. The concert of the forbidden band Perkons, followed by the demolition of a train, becomes a reason for portraying the teenagers. The director talks to rebellious young people, hoping to learn about their dreams and plans for the future. The film, often called “the first bird of Perestroika”, was watched by 28 milion people in 85 countries. It received the FIPRESCI award at the Krakow Film Festival.