tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27407117796422609992012-02-16T19:31:08.706-06:00Random musings, idle thoughts, delusions of grandeur, and Latvian films.Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.comBlogger491100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-4928153863762142222011-12-30T11:38:00.000-06:002011-12-30T11:38:30.115-06:00

I'm frustrated. You're frustrated. Everyone is frustrated. Don't believe me? Just read a poll. Any poll. The Tea Party is tired of big government and waste. Occupy [insert location of choice] is tired of big business and big money. The right wants more cuts in spending. The left wants more spending. The young want jobs. The old want more security. Throw a dart and you are guaranteed to hit

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-63092427926268025922011-06-07T16:16:00.002-05:002011-07-02T11:48:23.844-05:00

st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } Was looking for something on USENET and found this thing I wrote way back in 1996. Figured might as well add it to the blog. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Just got back from a three day diving safari of the Sinai with the Red Sea Sports Club/Manta.  In short, I had a great time and the money was well spent. On our first day we took

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-59583052370703146232011-04-06T07:58:00.002-05:002011-04-06T08:00:33.459-05:00

The pool at Live Aqua Those of you who know me know that my tastes usually trend towards the lower end of the creature comforts scale. Not big on linen napkins and room service and pampering. Service staff hovering over me attentively make me nervous. I guess I see myself in their shoes and all things considered you can always blame my Soviet Latvian upbringing. Some of my best vacation

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-80759492103366447992010-12-04T16:14:00.001-06:002010-12-04T16:14:19.739-06:00

I've always had mixed feelings about the Caymans. I've been to Grand Cayman three times. Once for a week and twice as stop overs on cruises. Each time I've had a decent time, but there was nothing there that I couldn't get at half the price somewhere else and no particular desire to come back again. This is not a criticism by the way. Grand Cayman has a lot going for it and a lot of fans. I

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-728687693020392962010-10-20T16:54:00.003-05:002010-10-25T16:32:44.485-05:00

Coming to you soon in glorious 3D!!! If I see one more preview for a film in 3D I am liable to throw something at the screen. Enough already. Not that there is anything wrong with making films in 3D, but the films being made in 3D are for the most part nothing more than a marketing gimmick. Shows what Hollywood thinks of their audience. Story? Direction? Acting? That's hard and no predictor of

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-70871222133337722632010-10-19T11:47:00.006-05:002010-10-19T12:05:20.567-05:00

Comedy/Drama.2010.Written and directed by Maris Martinsons.Starring: Kaori Momoi, Andrius Mamontovas, Monie Tung, Kristine Nevarauska, and Lau Dan.<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-42516932247057213302010-05-10T15:51:00.003-05:002010-08-01T14:51:42.581-05:00

Drama.2009.Directed by Andis Miziss.Written by Kaspars Odins and Elvita Ruka.Starring: Andris Keiss, Santa Didzus, Jana Sekste and Guna Zarina.Emir Kusturica is a world renowned Serb filmmaker who makes great surreal and absurdist films. Time of the Gypsies and Arizona Dream come to mind. Medibas tries to traverse the same terrain, but unfortunately Andis Miziss, the director of the film, is no

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-14020178001298553642010-02-06T09:20:00.006-06:002010-11-09T17:25:26.421-06:00

I love the movies. I've seen quite a few of them. At a rough count lets say 5000 or so. Started having disposable income around the age of 14 and like most at that age had plenty of motivation to escape reality. Hey, at least it kept me away from drugs. I used to cut school often and take the L into the Loop and get off at Washington. The Loop of those days was quite different. Not quite the

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-62250876683593482202010-01-05T09:42:00.010-06:002010-01-05T13:42:25.880-06:00

Growing up, while other kids wanted to be cosmonauts, firemen and policemen, my ambition in life was to be a clown. Hold off on the snickering for a moment (yes, I know some would say I succeeded beyond my wildest dreams). I am not talking clown as in Bozo. If I grew up watching Bozo I too might be scared of clowns. I am talking clown as in Oleg Popov. There was just something about him that

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-43455229669661599282009-12-29T16:01:00.007-06:002009-12-31T14:07:11.903-06:00

Monday Night Football. National audience. Overtime. Bears win. Against the division leading Vikings. If there's any team Bears fans hate, assuming its not a game against the Packers, its the Vikings. And in Bret Favre you even have the Packers covered. Who could ask for more.Then why am I so unhappy?I am not exactly a huge sports fan. I don't spend much time watching sporting events on TV. I'd

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-72470020975883558392009-11-12T10:05:00.006-06:002009-11-12T15:27:29.239-06:00

I love this country. Myth thought it might be in many ways my experience is that of the American Dream. My mother and I arrived on these shores in 1977 and while not exactly being huddled masses yearning to be free between the two of us we basically had $600 and the clothes on our backs. 30+ years later we are comfortably lower middle class. There's a roof over our heads and money in our bank

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-28748644745256351452009-09-19T07:55:00.018-05:002009-09-19T09:50:43.804-05:00

I've always wanted to visit mainland China. The closest I ever got was a month in Hong Kong and a couple of weeks in Taiwan. When this opportunity to work in Malaysia came up and I was looking at airfare one of the lower fare flights had a 9 hour layover in Shanghai so that's the one I chose reasoning that 9 hours is better than nothing. Of course I should have checked first if one needed a visa

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-34843976143725552592009-09-11T08:20:00.007-05:002009-09-23T09:32:10.926-05:00

The slogan is everywhere. Posters on buildings. Adverts in newspapers. On the radio and TV. In the news and on the street. On the other end of the spectrum there's a crowd with a cow's head marching on a proposed Hindu temple in a majority Muslim area. Vigilante anti-alcohol activists removing beer from a Seven-Eleven. There's the caning sentence for a Muslim girl for drinking a beer in a night

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-2918794191608351482009-09-10T21:53:00.006-05:002009-09-10T23:10:22.199-05:00

I am too poor to be a true early adapter. New technology when it first hits the market tends to be expensive and only as it matures and more and more people take it up the price goes down and the rest of us get to play. Still I have had my moments. Particularly when its media related.I started using computers around 1980. I actually owned an original Pong and I even bought one of the first Radio

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-5550592515122413022009-09-09T21:57:00.006-05:002009-09-10T01:37:24.239-05:00

They say that 6/7ths of the planet are covered by water. That's a lot of water. I haven't had the chance to explore all of it yet. Maybe just 1/6677 of it, but I've been fortunate to dive in some really nice portions of it. I've been to the Red Sea, Cayman Islands, Cozumel, Roatan, Belize, Tobago, Turks and Caicos, Costa Rica, Phuket and Florida. I even dove within sight of a nuclear reactor in

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-31566280866682584212009-09-08T22:46:00.014-05:002009-09-09T21:37:42.728-05:00

Thanks to Nunda for first suggesting it and then Adrian, Lisa, Michael, Nesh and Tim for letting me tag along, I got a chance to visit Tioman Island (http://www.tioman.com.my/) and on the way back Malacca (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malacca). To get to Tioman you start out in the port of Mersing. We didn't really spend that much time in Mersing other than park and board the ferry, but that's

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-86241479220190529722009-08-31T06:07:00.004-05:002009-08-31T06:39:30.371-05:00

Hari Merdeka is the Malaysian Independence Day. Thanks to Adrian, Lisa, Michael, Nunda and Nesh I got to get a little taste of Malaysia's 52nd. We originally had hoped to watch some fireworks at KLCC (http://www.suriaklcc.com.my/) but the government had decided to dial down the celebrations this year (the official reason given was due to fears of the spread of H1N1) so the fireworks at KLCC were

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-66283627548858842212009-08-16T15:14:00.009-05:002009-08-17T11:15:31.877-05:00

As some of you know I am currently in Malaysia on business. Liking the country and the people, but not liking the working hours. Malaysia is 13 hours ahead of the US and since we are supporting the US on local US time the working hours translate to 10pm-7am Malay time. I've worked the third shift from time to time in the US back in my Dominick's days, but never had to for a prolonged period. Its

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-8940668677130409592009-03-28T14:14:00.010-05:002010-05-06T12:33:07.649-05:00

Drama. 2007.Written and Directed by: Janis Kalejs (segment "childhood"), Janis Putnins (segment "Adulthood"), Gatis Smits (segment "Youth"), Anna Viduleja (segment "Old").Starring: Igors Suhoverhovs, Karlis Spravniks, Ints Teterovskis, Liubomiras Lauciavicius, Emilija Leiskalne, Irena Tjunina, Tatjana Jansone-Nazarova, Armands Reinfelds, Girts Krumins.As a rule I am not a big fan of omnibus or

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-42217754168427916702009-03-28T11:58:00.011-05:002009-09-09T21:39:46.905-05:00

Tobago -- March 14-22, 2009 Tobago advertises itself as the Capital of Paradise and as such isn't far off in its claim. The island is a beautiful place with mountains, lush flora and varied fauna, secluded beaches and a laid back vibe. I chose Tobago for two reasons. The first being is that I needed a place to go diving and it is quickly developing a reputation as a major dive destination. The

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-76621024028786672172008-10-26T13:14:00.003-05:002008-10-26T13:17:37.796-05:00

Aleksejs Tapinsh often offers interesting and revealing perspectives on Latvia. He doesn't often venture into the world of Latvian cinema, however. Here's one time when he does. All About Kino Riga.http://allaboutlatvia.com/article/701/the-splendid-palace/

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-20123633898679593372008-10-25T21:15:00.002-05:002008-12-19T19:48:47.755-06:00

Main Entry: blog Function: nounEtymology: short for WeblogDate: 1999Definition: a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer ; also : the contents of such a siteI have a friend who loves language the way other people love, well, the things they really, really love. I often affectionately refer to him as a language

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-26826176971748227842008-10-25T20:14:00.001-05:002008-10-25T20:48:06.780-05:00

Drama. 1939.Directed by Vilis Lapenieks.Written by Vilis Lacis.Starring: Peteris Lucis, Nina Melbarde, Haralds Vazdiks, Evalds Valters and Roberts Berzins."Zvejnieka Dels" (The Fisherman's Son) is a remarkable film when considered in thecontext of the historical period in which it was made and the two people who were primarily responsible for its making. It was made in the shadow of the emerging

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-53607271309515206662008-10-25T20:09:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:48:34.330-05:00

Children. 1993.Directed by Varis Brasla.Written by Alvis Lapins.Based on a story by A. Zapere.Starring: Dace Everss, Janis Paukstello, Inara Kalnaraja, Uldis Dumpis. Liga, Lasma, Liene and Almars Zostini, Edgars Eglitis and Kaspars Adamsons.Great films don’t always need to be “Great” films. They don’t have to be perfect or about important topics. Sometimes they can just simply be small gentle

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-12309828648459445352008-10-25T20:07:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:48:52.852-05:00

Comedy/Adventure. 1972.Directed by Aleksandrs Leimanis.Based on the novels of Rutku Tevs.Written by Janis Anerauds.If "Vella Kalpi" has not aged well, then time has been even less kind to its sequel, "Vella Kalpi Velna Dzirnavas." Its a pale imitation, as most sequels are, of the original. It has a Ballywood, and it was made long before the term was coined for the Indian movie industry, feel to

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-61180224606799812252008-10-25T20:05:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:49:10.966-05:00

Comedy/Adventure. 1970.Directed by Aleksandrs Leimanis.Based on novels by Rutku Tevs.Written by Janis Anerauds.This is my first memory of a Latvian film. I recently saw it again. Unfortunately, it has not aged well. The cinematography is average at best, the sound is tinny, the story over-blown, and the acting hammy. About the only part of it that doesn't seem to have aged is Raymonds Pauls

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-70812910549382245302008-10-25T20:01:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:49:32.819-05:00

Drama. 2000.Directed and Written by Janis StreicsStarring: Renars Kaupers, Ivars Kalnins, Arturs Skrastins, Aurelija Anuzite, Eduards Pavuls, Andris Berzins, Mirdza Martinsone, Olga Drege and Inese Saulite.It is not often that I feel I have to watch a film more than once. Not because I missed some important plot point, but because I am not sure I liked or disliked the film. I am still not sure.

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-32380179746165985072008-10-25T19:59:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:49:58.519-05:00

Documentary. 1986.Directed by Juris Podnieks.The body of work of Juris Podnieks lends itself to superlatives that often sound too good to be true. His accidental death at the age of 42 deprived Latvian film of an incredible talent who would have been entering the prime of this career. His skill and talent combined to make a filmmaker who would be considered great not only in the context of

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-77667545568249436092008-10-25T19:57:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:50:20.989-05:00

Drama. 1988.Directed by L. Locmele.Written by Alvis Lapins.Starring: C. Glaudans, A. Licitis, Janis Strenga and M. Berzina.Filmed in the waning days of the Soviet Union, "Svesais" (Stranger) is part road film, part mystical exploration and part social commentary. Filled with apocalyptic imagery, desperation and aimless nihilism L. Locmele's film takes us into a nightmarish world of alcoholism as

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-17411966290847310812008-10-25T19:53:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:50:49.727-05:00

Documentary. 2003.Written and directed by Ieva Salmane.Produced by Salmane and Maris Locmelis.Spriditis Amerika vai Does it Look Like Happiness? tries to answer an important question: Why have so many Latvians in recent years decided to leave Latvia to seek their happiness in the United States, and have they found it?It's a much-debated question both in Latvia and wherever else more than two

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-91744966995139245372008-10-25T19:48:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:51:12.602-05:00

Documentary. 1988 and 1998.Directed and filmed by Ivars Seleckis.The best fiction films are the ones that manage to capture some element of real life. It doesn't matter if they are set in a galaxy far, far away or taken straight from today's headlines. They feel real no matter how contrived. The best documentary films work in reverse. They take real life and give it scale and resonance that makes

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-49813787291241121322008-10-25T19:45:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:51:40.849-05:00

Thriller. 1973.Directed by Aloiz Brencs.Starring: Gunars Cilinskis, Uldis Dumpis and Lidija Pupure.“Chess for a Diamond Queen” by Aloiz Brencs is a below average detective film that is utterly predictable and uniquely Soviet. It will be near to impossible for western audiences to relate to the stock and trade of the detective genre; understanding the motivation of the good guys and the bad guys.

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-4417035131893288612008-10-25T19:43:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:52:04.705-05:00

Drama. 2007.Directed by Aigars Grauba.Written by Lisa Eichhorn, Andrejs Ekis, Aigars Grauba, Valentin Jemeljanov, Andris Kolbergs, and Andris Kolbergs.Starring: Uldis Dumpis, Arturs Skrastinš, Elita Klavina and Janis Reinis.Its not often the Latvians, like most of the smaller nations of the world, get to tell their side of the story and when they do the tendency is to make up for lost time.

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-8607059044120716942008-10-25T19:39:00.001-05:002011-01-31T10:13:53.879-06:00

Comedy/Drama. 1969. Directed by Leonids Leimanis. Based on a novel by Andrejs Upitis. Starring: Edurds Pavuls, Karlis Sebris, Liga Liepina and Zigrida Stungure. Actor Eduards Pavuls is one of Latvia’s best known and celebrated actors. “Pie Bagatas Kundzes” is perhaps his best film. Not unlike a Marlon Brando he can steal a film in just a few scenes as he did in “Baiga Vasara” or without the

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-84546161405855204272008-10-25T19:37:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:53:23.380-05:00

Drama. 2001.Directed by Viesturs Kairiss.Written by Kaspars Odins. Based on a story by Sudrabu Edzus.Starring: Davis Bergs, Andris Keiss, Guna Zarina, Elita Klavina, Liga Cizevska, Eriks Vilsons.“Pa Celam Aizejot” (Leaving by the Way) is a lyrical and mystical film that is hampered at times by uneven performances, but bolstered by excellent direction from Viesturs Kairiss. The winner of the 2002

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-4162158646994567952008-10-25T19:33:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:52:50.764-05:00

Children. 1991.Directed by Olegs Rozenbergs.Written by Alvis Lapins.Starring: Kalvis Berzins, Janis Pencis and Normunds Apinis.The beauty of children's films as a genre, and one of its major drawbacks, at least for adult viewers, is that the suspension of disbelief is a given. Children have no problem with accepting things and situations that adults would question."Pa Balta Furgona Pedam" (On the

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-31818040062329140252008-10-25T19:18:00.001-05:002010-05-06T12:51:22.888-05:00

Drama. 1971.Directed by Gunars Piesis.Based on a novel by Rudolfs Blaumanis. Screenplay by Janis Kalnins.Starring: Gunars Cilinskis, Eduards Pavuls and Karlis Serbis.Movies are often a reflection of their times. This makes them neither good nor bad, but they don’t always age well. What seemed like a searing and deep exploration of the human condition becomes a simple and dated period piece with

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-3842500138537977212008-10-25T19:15:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:54:36.909-05:00

Drama. 2007.Writen and directed by Juris Poskus.Starring: Iveta Pole, Varis Pinkis, Madara Melberga and Artuss Kaimins.Juris Poskus’ debut full length feature film Monotonija (Monotony), the Perspectives Award winner for first and second time filmmakers at the 29th Moscow International Film Festival, and a nominee for best full length feature film in this year’s Lielais Kristaps, can be best

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-27228642439925181202008-10-25T19:06:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:54:53.883-05:00

Comedy. 1981.Directed by Janis Streics.Written by Mara Svire.Starring: Lilita Berzina, Uldis Dumpis, Liga Liepina, Romualds Ancans and Evalds Valters.“Limuzins Janu Nakts Krasa” (Limousine the Color of St. John’s Night) is perhaps Latvians' favorite film. Like the American Christmas tradition of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” it has become a staple on Latvia’s TV screens around Jani, St. John’s day,

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-9004586231933581512008-10-25T19:05:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:55:06.844-05:00

Drama. 1998.Written and Directed by Janis Streics.Cinematography by Harijs Kukels.Music by Raimonds Pauls.Starring: Ivars Kalnins, Agnese Zeltina, Arturs Skrastins and Romualds Ancans.Liktendzirnas is a flawed film that manages to capture the spirit of the years shortly following Latvian independence despite it's tendency towards overwrought sentimentality and substandard production values.Eduks,

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-84730147670022894332008-10-25T19:01:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:55:23.716-05:00

Comedy/Drama. 2001.Directed by Peeter Simm.Written by Toomas Raudam and Peeter Simm.Cinematography by Uldis Jancis.Starring: Maija Apine, Rezija Kalnina, Tonu Kark, Tiit Suuk, Atis Tenbergs and Lembit Ulfsak.Labas Rokas (Good Hands), the Estonian and Latvian co-production directed by Peeter Simm, is filled with characters and character, sadness and humor. There's Margita (Rezija Kalnina), a

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-24582294400330412742008-10-25T18:59:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:55:49.257-05:00

Drama. 1998.Written and Directed by Laila Pakalnina.Cinematography by Gints Berzins.Edited by Sandra Alksne.Starring: Igors Buraks, Vadims Grossmans and Jaan Tatte.Three young soldiers discover a woman’s shoe on a sandy beach and chaos breaks out. Sirens go off, officers appear and hurried orders are shouted out. Welcome to Liepaja, Latvia, 1950. The new frontier. A time of paranoid suspicion,

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-32431390766594288512008-10-25T18:56:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:56:06.455-05:00

CD-ROM. 2000.Juris Podnieks was one of Latvia's best-known and most successful filmmakers. His accidental death in 1992 was a tremendous loss to Latvian film. Podnieks' unique combination of talent, determination, skill, courage and incredible ability to motivate others to exceed their limits allowed him to create films that transcended their subject matter. His films are comparable to similar

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-10577776661004793252008-10-25T18:53:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:56:28.104-05:00

Documentary. 2002.Directed and filmed by Herz Frank.For a small nation Latvia seems to have produced a disproportionate number of exceptionally talented documentary filmmakers. Perhaps owing to the development of the school of poetic documentary filmmaking in Riga in the 1960’s the likes of Herz Frank, Juris Podnieks, the Selecki clan, Una Celma and Laila Pakalnina enjoy a global reputation. Out

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-63010610022813681472008-10-25T18:51:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:56:47.149-05:00

Drama. 1990.Directed by Aivars Freimanis.Written by Aivars Freimanis and Janis Peters.Starring: Valdemars Zandbergs, Leonids Grabovskis, Velta Line and Indra Brike.“Life”, as its title suggests, is grand in scope. It tells the life story of Krisjans Barons, the primary cataloguer of the Dainas. It also, in the context of Barons’ life’s work, attempts to tell the tale of Latvia’s emerging national

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-24138047268434103822008-10-25T18:47:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:57:21.335-05:00

Drama. 1995.Directed by Igors Linga and Aigars Grauba.Based on a play by Lars Nuren.Starring: Armands Reinfelds, Uldis Norenbergs and Maija Jevhuta.No one ever sets out to make a bad film, but somehow they get made anyway. “Drosme Nogalinat” (The Courage to Kill) is a bad film and in so many different ways that it’s not easy to pinpoint where it went wrong or why it was made in the first place.It

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-68361768181148257312008-10-25T18:42:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:57:43.848-05:00

Comedy. 1972.Directed by Rolands Kalnins.Based on a novel by Pavils Rozitis.Starring: Eduards Pavuls.It is impossible to view “Ceplis”, directed by Rolands Kalnins and starring Edmunds Pavuls, without putting it in the context of the time and the place it was made. The year was 1972 and the place was Soviet Latvia. There is good and bad here.The good is that this is a great looking film. The

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-41137100170392918022008-10-25T18:36:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:58:01.364-05:00

Drama. 1999.Directed by Aigars Grauba.Written by Gints Berzins.Screenplay by Pauls Bankovskis, Gabis, Janis Leja, Andrejs Ekis, Aigars Grauba.Starring: Uldis Dumpis, Arturs Skrastinš, Inese Caune, Janis Reinis, Uldis.Vazdiks, Varis Vetra, Eduards Pavuls.Director Ivars Graubas' "Baiga Vasara" (Dangerous Summer) reaches high, but never quite attains its lofty goals. It is technically a great

Andrejshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13212064803235430083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2740711779642260999.post-70128765917820363762008-10-25T18:05:00.000-05:002008-10-25T20:58:16.720-05:00

Drama. 1974.Directed and written by Aivars Freimanis.Starring: Ivars Kalnins and Akvelina Livmane."Abols Upe" is the story of an island in the Daugava river that is the home of a small fishing village. An ageless place that seems untouched by time, but whose days are numbered, as most of the inhabitants will soon be relocated to make way for a bridge to Riga.Director Aivars Freimanis uses real

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