The Women of Blaumanis

literary adaptation, drama, 25 minutes

Five women share their life stories with each other. They all have one thing in common: they were written by the renowned Latvian writer and master of realism Rudolfs Blaumanis.

Director statement

The Women of Blaumanis is my personal journey into the world of Latvian classical prose. In the heart of Latvian literature, Rudolfs Blaumanis shines like a beacon, his words are a testament to the soul of the land. The characters he created on page are so real and vibrant, the tales are moving and feel contemporary even today.

In particular I was in awe of the women in his novels, their difficult lives and the awful yet inescapable destinies that awaited them. I really wanted to tell their stories to modern audiences, yet the only way to do it was to allow women to speak for themselves. That's how The Women of Blaumanis was conceived. I wasn't sure how this concept would work out. But in the end the strong characters and their stories speak for themselves, literally and figuratively. The film invokes strong gut punching reactions, and it's all thanks to Blaumanis and his craft.

Information

Cast

Velta Birze
Inese Pudža
Agate Marija Bukša
Endīne Bērziņa
Sandija Dovgāne

Crew

Writer and director: Dan Silov
Cinematographer: Andrejs Strokins
Editors: Dan Silov, Uģis Olte
Sound mix: Kārlis Butins
Producers: Emīlija Mikalauska, Nadīna Anna Larionova
In association with: Latvian Academy of Culture

Details

Original title: Blaumaņa sievietes
Release date: August 11, 2016
Runtime: 25 minutes
Language: Latvian
Subtitiles: English, Russian
Aspect ratio: 1.78 : 1