Fajr festival has unveiled the films that will be featured in its Baltic States Cinema program this year.
According to the organizers, seven films will grace this year’s run, which is presided over by Reza Mirkarimi from 21 to 28 April. The titles selected represent a variety of countries deliberately chosen for being outside of the mainstream.
Here are all the titles screening:
Exiled (2016)
1h 40min | Drama, History, War
Director: Davis Simanis Jr.
Main Cast: Ulrich Matthes, Agnese Cīrule, Dmitrijs Jaldovs, Leonīds Lencs, Toms Liepājnieks
Country: Latvia | Lithuania
Language: Latvian | German
Synopsis:
The final year of WWI. A German army surgeon Ulrich is sent to inspect a remote convalescent home for shell-shocked patients. The strange world he encounters in which reality appears more like fiction is quite challenging for his cold rational mind. His fruitless efforts to remodel the place and an unexpected attachment to a mysterious savage boy from the surrounding woods lead Ulrich to discover his one true self. Very soon this turned-out sanctuary will have to make its last stand against the approaching madness of the war.
About Director:
Davis Simanis Jr. has known film sets since childhood – his father was the distinguished Latvian cinematographer, Davis Simanis. From age 17 he gained practical experience in the various stages of film production. His film directing debut was a documentary dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the restoration of the Latvian National Opera house, Version. LNO (2006), which received the Latvian National Film Award, Lielais Kristaps. The film was followed by several other documentaries –The Draughtsman, Sounds under the Sun (with Gints Grūbe), Valkyrie Limited, and Chronicle of the Last Temple about the building of the Latvian National Library. His 2014 mockcumentary Escaping Riga is a “true and notice-worthy” story about two exceptional 20th century personalities: film director Sergei Eisenstein and philosopher Isaiah Berlin, both Riga-born and both displaced by WWI, landing in Russia and the UK respectively.
The Chronicles of Melanie (2016)
2h | Biography, Drama, History
Director: Viesturs Kairiss
Main Cast: Sabine Timoteo, Edvins Mekss, Baiba Broka
Country: Latvia | Czech Republic | Finland
Language: Latvian | Russian | German
Synopsis:
In the early morning of June 14, 1941, under Stalin’s orders, over 40 000 people from Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania were arrested, shoved into cattle cars and dispatched to permanent exile in Siberia. Among them – journalist Melanie and her 8-year-old son Andrejs, forcibly separated from husband and father. In the Siberian village women, ignorant of the fate of their husbands, they are settled in badly built barracks and forced to work like slaves. Melanie keeps herself alive for her son and husband to whom she writes hundreds of love letters that are never sent. After 16 years, Melanie is released and returns to Riga, only to find out that her husband Alexander died in the camps in 1942.
About Director:
Viestur Kairiss is a Latvian opera, movie and theatre director. He has made a successful career in Latvia and Germany as an acclaimed director of operas. The movies and plays of Kairiss have toured in many European festivals.
Dream Team 1935 (2012)
2h | Comedy, Drama, History
Director: Aigars Grauba
Main Cast: Janis Amanis, Inga Alsina, Vilis Daudzins
Country: Latvia | Switzerland
Language: Latvian | English
Synopsis:
Geneva, Switzerland 1935. Europe is struggling to be united as one yet the Woodrow- Wilson’s idea of a united Europe by the means of the League of Nations is being enforced. American missionaries since the 1920’s are trying to introduce the Europeans with the new sport called basketball. The first European Championship in basketball is about to take place. Meanwhile in Latvia, the coach Baumanis is convinced that he can gather the team and take it to Geneva. However, he quickly learns that triumph and defeat are a part of the game.
About Director:
Director Aigars Grauba was also responsible for the war drama Defenders of Riga, Latvian cinema’s biggest-ever domestic hit, which screened in our 2008 EUFF.
Kings’ Shift (2016)
1h 40min | Thriller
Director: Ignas Miskinis
Main Cast: Vainius Sodeika, Aiste Dirziute, Ignatavicius Paulius
Country: Latvia | Lithuania
Language: Lithuanian
Synopsis:
A rookie policeman is left alone in a private clinic to guard a comatose suspect of World War II crimes. His shift is long over, yet nobody comes to replace him. The youngster is determined not to leave his post until he gets permission from his authorities to do so. Lack of sleep, loneliness, hunger and the persistence to serve his duty turn the young man into a ticking time bomb at the very wrong time. He must decide how far he can go guarding this suspect who is hated by everyone.
About Director:
Ignas Miskinis is a director and writer, known for Low Lights (2009), Kings’ Shift (2016) and Diring (2006).
The Excursionist (2013)
1h 50min | Action, Drama
Director: Audrius Juzenas
Main Cast: Anastasija Marcenkaite, Igor Savochkin,Kseniya Rappoport
Country: Lithuania
Language: Russian | Lithuanian
Synopsis:
The story of a 10-year-old girl who escapes from a deportee train and takes a 6000 km long journey back to her homeland.
About Director:
Lithuanian director Audrius Juzenas is already well-known for his movie Ghetto (2006) – about the attempts of Vilnius Jews to organise a theatre under Nazi occupation – but The Excursionist goes beyond this. Along with the multitude of domestic garlands it’s already received, it’s also picked up a prestigious Nika award (the Russian Oscar equivalent).
The Spy and the Poet (2016)
1h 35min | Drama
Director: Toomas Hussar
Main Cast: Jan Uuspõld, Rain Tolk, Lana Vatsel
Country: Estonia
Language: Estonian
Synopsis:
Lonely secret service agent Gustav meets a mysterious gypsy woman. It soon comes clear that it is a trap set by the Russian intelligence. Gustav is ordered to continue the relationship to get a better understanding of the enemy’s plans. Unfortunately, Gustav finds himself struggling with the task, as he is falling in love with the enemy.
About Director:
Toomas Hussar is an actor and director, known for Mushrooming (2012), The Spy and the Poet (2016) and Mis juhtus, Waldemar? (1990).
In the Crosswind (2014)
1h 30min | Drama, History
Director: Martti Helde
Main Cast: Laura Peterson, Tarmo Song, Mirt Preegel
Country: Estonia
Language: Estonian | Russian
Synopsis:
Risttuules is very emotional and tragic movie about mass deportation to Siberia based on memories of Erna. It all started 14th of June 1941 when trucks came for families with their children where they headed to train station and later by wagons to Siberia.
About Director:
Martti Helde was born on August 23, 1987 in Tallinn, Estonia. He is a director and writer, known for In the Crosswind (2014), Superbia (2014) and Külm on (2010).
For all festivalgoers who are already planning their visit, check screening time and other information at Fajriff.com or email the Secretariat at Film@Fajriff.com.
Presided over by Reza Mirkarimi, the 35th edition of Fajr International Film Festival will take place from 21 to 28 April in Tehran.
