Already today, on September 20, the Latvian and world premiere of the historical multi-series film “Emilija. The Queen of the Latvian Press” will take place at the Splendid Palace cinema. After the premiere, the film will be available to viewers on the entertainment platform Tet + from September 23, but from October 1 – in cinemas throughout Latvia.
The multi-series film “Emilia. The Queen of the Latvian Press ”in seven series is a story about the interwar queen of the Latvian press – Emilija Benjamins, the publisher of the“ Latest News ”and“ Recreation ”, whose personality, wealth and tragic fate have become a legend of Latvian history.
The story of the film in six feature films and one documentary series covers the period from the beginnings of Emilia Benjamin’s magazine Recreation to her death in Siberia. Each series depicts a significant stage in Emilia Benjamin’s life, showing various aspects of her personality: family life, entrepreneurship, strengthening social status, influencing political and cultural developments in the 1920s and 1930s and, ultimately, the betrayal of her own employees. With this strong woman, the film will show the Latvian society in all its colors, and the audience will be familiar with many historical figures – Antons Benjamiņš, Jānis Benjamiņš, Kārlis Skalbe, Jānis Ziemeļnieks, Vilis Lācis, Jānis Kārkliņš, Annija Simsone, Pēteris Llaus, Jūlijs August Kirchenstein.
Six series of feature films are the authors’ artistic interpretation of the main character and historical events, while the seventh series includes documentary evidence of the film’s characters, their prototypes in the memories of their descendants today.
The screenplay was created by Baņuta Rubess, Ivo Briedis, Aiva Birbele, Tabita Rudzāte, consultants Māra Zālīte, Ineta Lipša, feature film series directors are Kristīne Želve, Andis Mizišs, Dāvis Sīmanis, documentary series director – Gints Grūbe, cinematographer – Andrejs Rudzāts, filmmaker – Andrejs Rudzāts, Jurjāne and Aivars Žukovskis, editing directors – Andris Grants, Paula Popmane and Armands Začs, composer – Kārlis Auzāns, sound director – Ernests Ansons, main producer – studio Mistrus Media, Inese Boka-Grūbe and Gints Grūbe.
In the role of Emilija Benjamiņa – actress Guna Zariņa, Antons Benjamiņš is played by Juris Bartkevičs, Jānis Benjamiņš – Raimonds Celms, many other outstanding Latvian actors have also starred in the series: Baiba Broka, Ligita Dēvica, Inga Tropa, Artūrs Skrastiņš, ”And“ Atpūtas ”are played by Uldis Anže, Jēkabs Reinis, Lauris Dzelzītis, Dainis Gaidelis, Edgars Ozoliņš, Gatis Maliks, Arnolds Osis and others.
Multi-series films “Emilia. The Queen of the Latvian Press ”was started in September 2020, filming took place in many historical places related to the story of the film – both in Benjamin House in Riga and in Valdeki Manor; The documentary series uses unique archival materials of the Benjamin family. The film is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, the National Film Center, the national co-producers of the series are the local content creator Tet studio and Latvian Television.
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