Uldis Millers

Imagine centuries ago several witches huddled around a steaming cauldron, gleefully consigning offensive items to the foul-smelling brew. Maggots, worms, snails – who knows what else? Perhaps unbelievable, but it did help. This is a story about people who practice their own way of feeling fit and happy. A hunter is convinced that beaver glands offer a unique remedy against various ailments. Herbal teas, picked at the right time, can perform miracles! Many shrink away from bees, but bees can bring relief. All good and simple things, forgotten in the rush of the 21st century.

A film examining the game of doubles of democracy and capitalism since the restoration of independence in Latvia. Freedom from the USSR, pilfering the state, victory in Eurovision, joining the EU and NATO, the greatest crisis in the world – a quarter century of contrast and challenges.

In 1986, Juris Podnieks made his film "Is it easy to be young?". The film became extremely popular and very soon was shown in 85 countries, which was a tremendous success for a Latvian film. It was even regarded as "the first bird of Perestroika". In 1998 the follow up film was made. It was extremely interesting to find out how the new economic system after the fall of the Soviet regime in Latvia had changed the lives of the persons filmed 10 years ago. "Is it easy to be...? After 10 years" also got an international recognition. The question 20 years later was- does anything change in this world or perhaps there are things that never change?! What has become of these brave youngsters who had once helped to destroy the Soviet system and who are now the generation of forty?

A look back at the first years after Latvia regained its independence.

Nominated as one of the best Latvian short films in 2007

The existence of two parallel communities – one Latvian, the other Russian, is the reality of present day Latvia. After the establishment of an independent Latvian Republic in 1991, the Russian speaking community began to see themselves as a threatened minority and started to depict themselves as oppressed. Where does the truth lie? Are there victims? Or is it simply that the idea of integration, for both sides, does not work properly?

Jānis was an actor – respected and in demand. Dina came to the Liepāja Theatre to become an actress. In the summer of 1992, Jānis fell off the roof of his house, broke his back and was partially paralysed. The doctors promised things would get better but they didn’t. They now live in a harsh reality which seems unbearable.

It's Latvia on the 20th of September, 2003 - the day of the referendum about joining the European Union. On the day of the referendum, twelve Latvian film directors of different generations portray twelve different characters across the country. Their life stories and environments affect their decision of voting “for” or “against”.

Vija Vetra is the famous Latvian dancer and choreographer. She was admired for her dancing by Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. She was loved by the world famous American poet Robert Lowell. She was the first to introduce sacred dance into church services in many different countries around the world. She has learned to cross freely the cultural boundaries, feeling equally at home both in Eastern and Western dance traditions. Born in Latvia, she has spent her life in different parts of the world and the camera traces her in the film (from India in 70ies where she had been renowned as "Vijaya", to New York, Greece, and Latvia today). The film is as colorful as her life: loud and happy like the feelings aroused by her splendid performance, deep and unknowable like her inner world, and sad, quiet and calm like loneliness itself?

A documentary about the creative process of Latvian artist Ilmārs Blumbergs, also featuring poet Imants Tilbergs who is trying to write one and the same book all his life.

At the end of World War II, many Latvians, Lithuanians, and Estonians fled the Soviet rule. They stayed abroad for many years. Now, after the regaining of independence of the three Baltic states, they are coming back. Their stories vary.

The film is a sequel of the legendary documentary “Is It Easy To Be Young?”, which was created in the year 1986 by Juris Podnieks. You once again meet the heroes from the first film. How their lives have changed, have their dreams fulfilled? The film received prize in Leipzig film festival, FIPRESSI prize, nominated for Prix Europa.

A film about the attack on the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 1991 when Latvia was regaining its independence from the Soviet Union. Several people were killed in the attack, including two cameramen, Andris Slapiņš and Gvido Zvaigzne, who were part of Juris Podnieks's team. Who was behind the attack, and why has this matter not been solved yet?

A tribute to late Latvian documentary film director Juris Podnieks. It was his plan to make this film about Latvia and Russia after the collapse of the USSR.

The last film of Juris Podnieks, it is dedicated to the memory of cameramen Andris Slapins and Gvido Zvaigzne, who died tragically during the shooting by OMON forces in the center of Riga in 1991.

Afterword for the film "Homeland" - January 1991. Death of Andris Slapiņš and Gvido Zvaigzne.

Voldis Viters is released after seven years in prison. He is 46 years old and has no family or job. Some of his old friends have abandoned the life of crime, and policeman Leo Aleksandrs, as well as the beautiful taxi driver Irēna, try to persuade Voldis to forget the past and move on. But when the crime boss Teksis proposes a plan to rob a jewelry store, Voldis agrees, thinking this will be his last crime before starting a new life. Marking the pinnacle of its director's filmography, To Be Unwanted is a psychological drama that centers not on a single crime or its investigation but on the emotional collapse of the criminal as he realizes that his amoral lifestyle has rendered him redundant within society.