The actresses will be more closely involved in this film than usual – in addition to the experienced screenwriter Rasa Bugavičute-Pēce, all three actresses are also entrusted to participate in the creation of the film’s script.
“The story of the film can be told in the form of an anecdote. Three sisters, trying to bypass the repatriation and expenses, cross Europe with their deceased mother in the roof rack. But this is an anecdote with meaning, ”explains Elza Gauja. “Sisters scattered across Europe are forced to talk again and stop pretending to be better and more successful than they really are.”
The actress also shares her personal experience in creating the script. “Everyone has a story about their mom, dad, sisters or brothers, and it’s always special. I have a younger sister myself, and I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be the youngest child in the family. Now I can feel that way for a while,” Anta Aizupe, who was nominated for the “Big Kristaps” award last year in the category of the best actress of the year.
“The film” Mom is still smiling “will be expressed in the cinema of the actors’ ensemble with bold visual stylistics,” promises producer Andris Gauja. “By filming in an expressive close-up, we will give the viewer the opportunity to breathe and live with the actors for an hour and a half,” adds the film’s director.
So far, Elza Gauja has mainly presented herself as a film and theater actress in feature films “Year of Release” (2014), “Nothing Will Stop Us” (2019), “Class Reunion 2” (2020); Zuko “,” Pagrabs “), but currently Elza is making her directorial debut, at the same time making two feature films – the documentary” Lucavsala ‘s Requiem “and the black comedy” Mom still smiles “, in addition to completing the film director’ s education
Along with Baiba Broka, Daiga Kažociņa and Anta Aizupe, the film will also feature male actors – Jānis Skutelis, Matīss Budovskis, while in the role of a mother, a special surprise awaits the audience. Cinematographer Aleksandrs Grebņevs, cinematographer Jānis Bijubens, costume designer Līga Krāsone, make-up artist Dzintra Bijubena and lighting artist Nikita Karpovs will take care of the visual language of the film “Mom is still smiling”. The screenwriter of the film is Rasa Bugavičute-Pēce, with the participation of all three actresses, but the producers are Marta Bite and Andris Gauja. The film is made in the studio “Riverbed”, which we know from the feature films “Release Year” and “Nothing Will Stop Us” by Alsra’s husband Andris Gauja.