The Dark Deer

Colour, 35 mm
Latvia, Austria, 2006, 85 min
IP – International premiere
Section: East of the West - Films in Competition

Synopsis

A group of German-speaking tourists arrive at a country estate for a deer hunt. 17-year-old Ria cannot reconcile herself to the fact that her father Alf earns a living in this way, and she tries to prevent the event from taking place. The shooting party includes Augusts, who left Latvia several years before and settled abroad, where he lives in a childless marriage. His arrival opens up oppressive family issues from the past (car accident and subsequent mental breakdown of the mother), which sensitive Ria deals with in a somewhat resolute manner, convinced in her young mind that she has acted correctly. The Dark Deer is based on the play of the same name by respected writer Inga Ābele, whose work is compared to the dramas of Tennessee Williams. Director Viesturs Kairišs has turned the dramatic text into a successful film adaptation in which he draws on the peculiar charm of the deer farm and the capable performances of all the leading actors.

About the director

Viesturs Kairišs (b. 1971, Riga) studied film and stage direction and works in both professions. In 1999 he won an award as best Latvian stage director, the previous year he was applauded for his production at EXPO Lisbon 1998, and his staging of the opera Eugene Onegin won a music prize. He has been making films since 1995, initially documentaries and short films. His half-hour feature Wedding (Kazas, 2000) won several awards. After his feature-length debut Leaving by the Way (Pa celam aizejot, 2001), which was screened in the main competition at Karlovy Vary in 2002, he continued to make short films. He has been a member of the Latvian Filmmakers’ Union since 1998.