The film “January” breaks the record of this year’s fall film marathon

“Just like every generation has a different January. I understood it watching the movie. Jazi and I are separated by a generation, so my time at the barricades was different.

It was the belief that justice was on our side. However, I am grateful to Viesturs Kairis for giving me the opportunity to look into the experiences of my son’s generation,” writes politician Sandra Kalniete on her social media account.

“In short, it could be described as a somewhat psychedelic cinema, which at the same time evokes the sensations of the turning point between the 80s and 90s well.

The flavor of the era is achieved with authentic interiors, a bohemian atmosphere at house parties, fashion, music of that time, the behavior of people. In general – excellent,” writes the historian and popular teacher Valdis Klišāns.

The director of the film is Viesturs Kairišs, cinematographer – Vojcehs Starons, artist – Ieva Jurjāne, costume designer – Rūta Lečaite, composer – Juste Janulīte, make-up artist – Ilze Trumpe, producers – Inese Boka-Grūbe and Gints Grūbe. The producer and distributor of the film in Latvia is Mistrus Media.

Cast: Kārlis Arnolds Avots, Alice Dzene, Baiba Broka, Sandis Runge, Artūrs Skrastiņš Imants Strads, Lauris Dzelzītis, Kaspars Dumburs, Juhans Ulfsaks, Aleks Kazanavičs. The film is a joint production of Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

“Janvāris” had its world premiere in June this year at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival in the United States, where it won the jury prize for best foreign film.

The National Cinema Center also nominated the film as Latvia’s nomination for the Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

This fall, at the Rome Film Fest, the international film festival in Rome, the film won the best film award in the competition, Viesturs Kairišs received the award for best director and Kārlis Arnolds Avots – the award named after Vittorio Gasman as best actor.

In the main competition program of the Warsaw International Film Festival, Viesturs Kairišs was awarded the Best Director award.

In Latvia, the screening of the film in cinemas in many places will continue in December and January, but several meetings of the filmmakers with the Latvian audience are planned for the beginning of 2023.