Alvis Lapins

The Swamp Wader

Latvia in the late 19th century. Edgars, the coachman of Alaine manor, loves Kristine, the washerwoman's daughter, although he is too hot-headed for Kristine's mother to consider him a good suitor for his daughter. Servant Viskrelis and stable boy Sutka try to tempt Edgars to a life of drinking and a relationship with the barmaid Matilde. Meanwhile, Kristine is courted by a rich landowner, Akmentins.

My Family

After his family was introduced on a national TV as a "perfect family", the son Robert has a hard time confronting all the lies related to this accidental fame.

Stranger

In the center of a small town there is a liquor store, every day a long line of people rubs impatiently by it. Thirteen-year-old Zigis sees his father here more and more often. The faces of many alcoholics have already been stamped by degradation, there is indifference in their eyes, they have lost interest in life. The boy realizes that such a terrible future also awaits the person closest to him. Not expecting to get help from anyone, Zigis decides on an unusual step: he goes to Marta, a popular healer, to save his father. On the way, the boy meets different people and experiences different attitudes towards himself, gets to know the contradictions of life.

In A Loop

Suncandle

Young Juris is being raised by his mother alone in a rural village. She is in love with Jānis, a collective farm driver, and the two plan to get married. As the wedding approaches, Juris prepares a special secret gift for them—a “sun candle” plant he is growing in a forest clearing.

Emil's Mischiefs

Young Emil lives with his parents and younger sister on a small farm. Emil's kindness and energy make him interfere with everything around him, but the results are usually not what he intended.

Touch

Christmas Huddle

The story of Cīrulīši - a tight-knit family down on their luck, and their trials and tribulations during the Christmas season.

Obliging Collaborators

The code to unlocking this feature documentary is 1949, the year the director was born, and also the year of the return of Soviet repressions to Latvia. The film tells a very personal story against the background of less visited historic events – the death of director’s father due to the KGB repressions, which is closely linked to the devious game Soviet Latvia’s KGB played against Swedish-British-American spy agencies.

The Zitar Family

The epic film is based on the motifs of Vilis Lācis' novel "The Zītari Family". The tragedy of the Zītari family is a model of Latvian national history. With the beginning of World War I, the patriarchal way of life of Captain Andrejs and his wife Alvīne, their children Kārlis, Ings, Ernests, Elza and Janka changes, with years spent at work and in rare, modest celebrations. Kārlis voluntarily goes to the front, Ingus disappears without a trace on long sea voyages. Not wanting to live in the territory occupied by the German army, the Zītari evacuate to the distant Altai region. The unusually difficult living conditions and the drastically changing political situation of the post-revolutionary period also affect each member of the Zītari family. When the opportunity arises to return to Latvia, Andrejs and Alvīne are no longer among the living. The old sailor's nest has collapsed and the young Zītari are no longer able to preserve their father's house - all the property is stolen.

On the White Van's Trail

Three friends dream of purchasing St. Bernard puppies. But obstacles arise along their path, which require resourcefulness and ingenuity to overcome...

Tās dullās Paulīnes dēļ

Icebreaker Krišjānis Valdemārs

In the Gulf of Finland shipwreck hunters come across the remains of a sunken ship. Having examined the images obtained by an underwater robot, researchers come to a conclusion that the wreck remains are that of “Krišjānis Valdemārs” – independent Latvia´s first icebreaker. The story of an icebreaker allows viewers to the look at the history of Latvia between wars from a new angle and provides insights into the little known, but fascinating episodes of a maritime history.

Grandpa More Dangerous Than a Computer

Eight-year-old Oskar’s holidays start miserably; his parents “swap” the computer for his granddad to protect the child from the dangerous influence of the Internet.

Waterbomb for the Fat Tomcat

The parents have gone away, so the two sisters - Marta and Linda - need someone to take care of them. Their dictatorial spinster aunt Una, who desperately wants to get married, arrives to take on this job. Marta really wants a puppy, but her plan is ruined, as her aunt has a strong dislike for dogs. So, the relationship between the girls and Una becomes really tense. Until the perfect plan of the sisters emerges - to get rid of the aunt by helping her to get married.

If It Wasn't For This Lass...

During the summer holidays, the children's company gathers around the Rhine, but the curious boy Kārlis stays alone. The girl Herta comes from Riga to visit her relatives. She spends time with interest and listens to Karl's stories. The offended Reinis and his friends play an evil joke with Kārlis, wanting to laugh at the different boy.

Unfinnished Dinner

In one of the prestigious restaurants during banquet speech a large company's director Palmgren is killed in front of dozen guests . Case is lead by Criminal Investigation Officer Pierre Monson with his assistants. Suspect can be easily intercepted if only miserably lazy police officers Kvant and Kristiansson instead of catching criminal would not argue with father of little 3 years old boy who yelled: "Police, police, mashed potatoes" when they ate hot dogs. Help comes from capital in form of the famous Commissioner Martin Beck, who discovers that murdered industrialist was involved in illegal activities and had many enemies. The case is linked as well with government's "higher ends".

Unfinished Dinner

In one of the prestigious restaurants during banquet speech a large company's director Palmgren is killed in front of dozen guests . Case is lead by Criminal Investigation Officer Pierre Monson with his assistants. Suspect can be easily intercepted if only miserably lazy police officers Kvant and Kristiansson instead of catching criminal would not argue with father of little 3 years old boy who yelled: "Police, police, mashed potatoes" when they ate hot dogs. Help comes from capital in form of the famous Commissioner Martin Beck, who discovers that murdered industrialist was involved in illegal activities and had many enemies. The case is linked as well with government's "higher ends".

The Times of the Surveyors

The second half of the 19th century. The arrival of land surveyors in a Latvian village for the redistribution of land provoked a scandal...

Aija

Former servant Janis Balodis returns home where he again meets Aija, whom he has loved since childhood. After her husband's death Aija lives alone with her children. Janis love awakens and he marries Aija hoping for a happy life together.

Mirage

Tragic events in the lives of five people after they have stolen a car with one million dollars in the safe. This is the job they have all been waiting for. The job that will set them up for life. A million dollars split five ways, who wouldn't be interested? The only catch is that it's the very definition of impossible...or is it? Armed with a brilliant plan, the four men and one woman think they can crack it. But as tensions in the group begin to mount and things start to go wrong, the million dollars feels more out of reach than ever. Even though it is right with them...

Zītaru dzimta

Tragedy of the Zitars family based on the novel by Vilis Lacis.