10 cult films shot at the Riga Film Studio during the Soviet era

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

At the Riga Film Studio, founded 80 years ago, many good films were shot, which viewers are happy to watch today. Since its separation into a separate production in 1948, the studio has never interrupted its activities and annually released 10-15 films on the screens of the Soviet Union. Unfortunately, today television rarely indulges viewers with showing films of the Riga Film Studio, although there are real masterpieces among them.

The Long Road in the Dunes, 1980-1981, directed by Alois Branch

In seven episodes of this picture, an entire era was contained, covering an almost half-century story of love carried through the difficulties of the war years and the Siberian camps. The melodies written for the film by Raymond Pauls became real hits, and a very touching story was associated with the picture itself. The orphanage kid, who was filmed in the role of the tiny son of the main character Marta, found his family in the process of filming, and subsequently Lilita Ozolina, the leading actress, more than once said in her interviews that the picture was worth filming at least because of this. However, the “Long Road in the Dunes” has many advantages even without it. It is worth remembering that the creators of the tape were awarded the USSR State Prize.

Theater, 1978, directed by Janis Streich

One of the studio's most famous films was based on the novel by Somerset Maugham. He was awarded the State Prize of the Latvian USSR and the National Prize "Big Kristaps". He was filmed for the 50th anniversary of the brilliant Vija Artmane, who played the main role, and in the frame you can see the composer Raimonds Pauls as a pianist, Ivars Kalnins, Gunar Tsilinsky, Elsa Radzinya and other talented actors.

Mirage, 1983, directed by Alois Branch

The mini-series was based on the novel by James Hadley Chase "The whole world in your pocket", and the main roles were played by Mirdza Martinsone, Martins Wilsons, Regimantas Adomaitis, Int Burans and Boris Ivanov. Despite the fact that almost 40 years have passed since the creation of the film, I want to watch it again and again, watching the amazing acting and enjoying every frame.

"Arrows of Robin Hood", 1975, director Sergei Tarasov

The film was based on medieval ballads about the hero of English folk tales, played by Boris Khmelnitsky. This image has become the hallmark of the actor. The film features the music of Raymond Pauls and Vladimir Vysotsky. But the ballads of the latter were not included in the rental version; they were later used in another wonderful film "The Ballad of the Valiant Knight Ivanhoe". In 2002, the director's version of the film was released in the form in which it was originally conceived, with music by Vladimir Vysotsky.

"Servants of the Devil", 1970, director Alexander Leimanis

The film based on the novels of Rutku Teva (Arveda Mikhelsons) was the only musical filmed in Latvia during the Soviet era, and the main role in it was played by the leading soloist of the Opera and Ballet Theater of the Latvian SSR Harald Ritenbergs. Surprisingly, the film is set in medieval Riga, and the shooting took place mainly in Tallinn and Kaliningrad. All the actors involved in the film had to learn to ride a horse.

"Two", 1965, directed by Mikhail Bogin

The short film, shot at the Riga Film Studio, became the diploma work of the VGIK graduate Mikhail Bogin. The love story of a conservatory student, whose role was played by Valentin Smirnitsky, and a deaf and dumb girl, whose image was embodied by Victoria Fedorova, the daughter of actress Zoya Fedorova. The main thing in this film is not words, but feelings conveyed by facial expressions, gestures, eyes.

Sonata over the Lake, 1976, directors Gunnar Tsilinsky and Varis Brasla

Astrida Kairisha, Gunar Tsilinsky, Lilita Ozolinya, Girt Yakovlev, Lydia Freimane, Evald Valters and other talented actors starred in the film based on Regina Ezera's novel The Well. The film won the main prize of the 10th All-Union Film Festival in 1977, and the story itself, told in "Sonata over the Lake", was called by the audience a tender love story with a bitter taste.

Death Under Sail, 1976, director Ada Neretniece

The detective film was based on the novel of the same name by Charles Percy Snow. It features a truly gripping storyline and an excellent cast. Marianna Vertinskaya, Girt Yakovlev, Mirdza Martinsone, Antanas Barchas, Kaljo Kiisk, Lembit Ulfsak and many other actors play brilliantly. Although the film has no high awards, it was very popular during the Soviet era.

Is It Easy to Be Young? 1986, directed by Juris Podnieks

Despite the fact that the film, shot in 1986 at the Riga Film Studio, was a documentary, its popularity at the time of its release was in fact incredible. After the premiere, it was bought by television companies from many countries, and the USSR State Prize, the FIPRESCI Prize at the Cannes International Film Festival and the American International Documentary Film Association Award speak for themselves. The director talked about the problems of the youth of the mid-1980s and planned to shoot a sequel to the film, returning to his characters 10 years later. Unfortunately, in 1992 Juris Podnieks died, and the sequel was filmed by Antra Tsilinska at the Studio of Juris Podnieks. In 2010, she shot a new film with the same characters.

Double Trap, 1985, directed by Alois Branch

This film, based on a script by Vladimir Kuznetsov, became one of the best detective stories, based on a plot with the introduction of a law enforcement officer into a criminal group. "Double Trap" became the leader of the box office in 1986, and the music, written by Raymond Pauls, was subsequently released as a separate disc.

Sometimes it seems that all good films have been reviewed more than a dozen times and there will be no discoveries. We recommend that our readers turn to the classics of world cinema and watch unfairly forgotten films. They can rightfully be called Hollywood classics. These masterpieces are timeless and timeless. They were filmed in the last century, but they can impress even the most sophisticated viewers with a fascinating plot, the skill of the director and, of course, talented acting.