The Times of the Surveyors

The action of the film takes place in Latvia and spans the period from 1939 to the early 1970s. The events that occurred in the country had various effects on the fates of the characters. But throughout it all, love guided them — it scattered and gathered, made them suffer terribly, and made them the happiest people in the world...

The Latvian epic "Lāčplēsis" resounds through time and parallels the struggles of a Latvian soldier and his love before, during and after WWI.

The action of the film takes place in Latvia and spans the period from 1939 to the early 1970s. The events that occurred in the country had various effects on the fates of the characters. But throughout it all, love guided them — it scattered and gathered, made them suffer terribly, and made them the happiest people in the world...

A propaganda film shot in Nazi-occupied Latvia (1941-44). It outlines the horrors the country experienced during the Soviet occupation the year prior (remembered now as Annus Horriblis) and includes historical footage. However, to twist the narrative to suit its ideological means, the film also tries to influence the public perception of the Jewish people, stating they were appreciative of the Soviet invasion and happily took part in their attrocities. The film was dubbed in over 20 languages and distributed in other Nazi-invaded countries.

In 1802, growing anger among Latvian peasants erupts after changes in taxation, placing an even heavier burden on the peasant population. After a series of meetings, the peasants resolve to use force to free those already arrested. Thousands armed with clubs and scythes rise up, but are driven back by troops and retreat into a nearby forest. As reinforcements arrive, mass arrests and brutal reprisals follow, and the courts sentence some of the rebels to lifelong exile in Siberia.