Rolands Kalniņš

What happens in the eyes of a 100-year-old filmmaker? Rolands Kalniņš, one of the great masters of Latvian cinema, sits down to have his photo taken and looks straight in the lens. Kalniņš’ life has spanned an authoritarian regime, a world war, long years under Soviet occupation and censorship, and retirement in independent Latvia. His films have been censored, destroyed, found and restored. But here, like Herz Frank once did with a child, for ten minutes we shall observe the micro-emotions of a man who has dedicated his life to film. Confronted directly by the tool of his trade, the camera. As we face Kalniņš eye to eye, we hear the sounds of his present, and the memories of his past.

The colourful musical comedy Maritime Climates could have been a triumph of smart political satire – if people in positions of power hadn’t got worried by the rushes they saw, which lead them to terminate the production. In 1992, Rolands Kalniņš made this edit of the remaining material – an elegy to lost hopes and illusions.

Based on the popular novel of the same title by Vilis Lācis. Latvia, the 1930s. Roberts Līviņš, the son of a dockhand, becomes an architect by his own efforts, thanks to arduous work and talent. But in his relationship with Līvija, the daughter of the rich entrepreneur Ulpe, Roberts realizes that the high society might look down on his common origins as well as his sister Alise, a hairdresser, and her boyfriend Ēriks, an opportunist and former boxer.

Cezars Kalnins installs telephones by day and composes pop songs by night. His band has a hard time receiving the permit from Soviet censorship authorities for a public debut. A member of the Culture Committee superficially listens to Cēzars' songs and deems the lyrics "unsuitable and frivolous” and "unfit for the Soviet youth”, and is later powerless to stop the grindstone of public debate, which she has herself initiated.

A six-year-old boy plots to stop his "sweetheart", a grown-up woman in his pre-World War II Latvian village, from marrying.

After losing his job, Kārlis is forced into grueling work at a remote peat quarry—only to find himself caught between the Communist underground and the Latvian counterintelligence service, where every choice carries a moral cost.

The colourful musical comedy Maritime Climates could have been a triumph of smart political satire – if people in positions of power hadn’t got worried by the rushes they saw, which lead them to terminate the production. In 1992, Rolands Kalniņš made this edit of the remaining material – an elegy to lost hopes and illusions.

Based on the popular novel of the same title by Vilis Lācis. Latvia, the 1930s. Roberts Līviņš, the son of a dockhand, becomes an architect by his own efforts, thanks to arduous work and talent. But in his relationship with Līvija, the daughter of the rich entrepreneur Ulpe, Roberts realizes that the high society might look down on his common origins as well as his sister Alise, a hairdresser, and her boyfriend Ēriks, an opportunist and former boxer.

Cezars Kalnins installs telephones by day and composes pop songs by night. His band has a hard time receiving the permit from Soviet censorship authorities for a public debut. A member of the Culture Committee superficially listens to Cēzars' songs and deems the lyrics "unsuitable and frivolous” and "unfit for the Soviet youth”, and is later powerless to stop the grindstone of public debate, which she has herself initiated.

A six-year-old boy plots to stop his "sweetheart", a grown-up woman in his pre-World War II Latvian village, from marrying.

After losing his job, Kārlis is forced into grueling work at a remote peat quarry—only to find himself caught between the Communist underground and the Latvian counterintelligence service, where every choice carries a moral cost.

Relations of two sportsmen who often forget that they are not the only ones in the stadium.

A political film based in Latvian countryside in 1947.

Latvia in the 1920s. The enterprising Edgars Ceplis establishes a company to produce bricks from Latvian clay for export. Many are involved in his project, hoping for the huge profits the venture promises. Ceplis soon becomes infatuated with his office typist Austra Zīle and starts neglecting the business...

A story about the significance of Goethe’s Faust in the development of Latvian literature, language, publishing, culture and theatre. The video highlights the intersection of world cultures and their mutual development, as well as the courage of the people to break the boundaries of stereotypic attitudes.

A story about the significance of Goethe’s Faust in the development of Latvian literature, language, publishing, culture and theatre. The video highlights the intersection of world cultures and their mutual development, as well as the courage of the people to break the boundaries of stereotypic attitudes.

The hard work plays an important role in the personal growth of a runner.

Head of the CID and his colleagues are investigating a serious crime but the main witnesses are of no help.

A film about combating venereal diseases.

Donats is a modern-day Don Juan juggling the various women in his life seemingly without any consequences, until he falls in love with Agnese. Her husband, Ralfs, turns out to be a formidable opponent.

A businessman and a footballer are murdered before an important football match in Prague. Investigation has to be started.

Early 20th-century Latvia. Revolutionary Mārtiņš Robežnieks is arrested by the gendarmes, while his younger brother Jānis, a teacher dismissed for his rebellious speeches, returns to their family home. Initially, Jānis continues to agitate among the farm workers, but his marriage to the estate manager’s daughter gradually draws him away from the revolutionary cause. When the upheaval of 1905 reaches their homeland, Mārtiņš returns from Riga as peasants rise against the baron’s rule.

The wonderful power of folk songs and dances that helps to notice the beauty of the world and human relations.

The film focuses on composer Ādolfs Skulte (1909-2000) and his life story as told through his own memories, archival materials, and music. In interviews filmed in the late 1990s, the maestro recounts his life and recalls his childhood, his studies with Professor Jāzeps Vītols, his work as a teacher, his move from Kiev to Latvia, and his most memorable students – Imants Kalniņš, Mārtiņš Brauns, Vilnis Šmīdbergs and others – the creation of the ballet Brīvības sakta (1946-1950) and other important events in his life, which culminated in the Grand Music Award for lifetime achievement in 1999. Ādolfs Skulte is filmed by his son, cinematographer Gvido Skulte, and the composer's wife Helēna and grandson, artist Kristaps Skulte, also play an important role in the film.

The film focuses on composer Ādolfs Skulte (1909-2000) and his life story as told through his own memories, archival materials, and music. In interviews filmed in the late 1990s, the maestro recounts his life and recalls his childhood, his studies with Professor Jāzeps Vītols, his work as a teacher, his move from Kiev to Latvia, and his most memorable students – Imants Kalniņš, Mārtiņš Brauns, Vilnis Šmīdbergs and others – the creation of the ballet Brīvības sakta (1946-1950) and other important events in his life, which culminated in the Grand Music Award for lifetime achievement in 1999. Ādolfs Skulte is filmed by his son, cinematographer Gvido Skulte, and the composer's wife Helēna and grandson, artist Kristaps Skulte, also play an important role in the film.

The film was made for the World Expo '70 in Osaka (Japan), introducing viewers to Latvian folk dances.

A cinematic portrait of the actress and performer Vija Armane.

A story about children helping the Soviet Army during the war.

A chronicle created from archival materials, which in terms of form continues the path of montage films once begun by Braun. The events in the film take place during the period from the 1905 revolution to the manifestations of Latvia's efforts to regain independence in the Baltic Way and the Third Awakening.

During World War II three best friends are mobilized into the Waffen-SS Latvian Legion. Years later their fates continue to intertwine, as memories of war loom in back of their minds.