Archive of films Vogelfrei / Vogelfrei

Latvia
2007, 93 min

Section: East of the West - Competition
Year: 2008

The hero of this compelling, sensitive collection of film stories is a withdrawn outsider called Teodors. We first see him as a small boy playing games in the summer holidays, then as an adolescent hockey-player who starts up a relationship with a girl, after that a lonely but self-centred and manipulative manager, and finally a rural hunter of birds of prey.

Synopsis

A collection of film stories by a quartet of young directors who capture four important moments in one man’s life. Teodors is first a small boy playing games in the summer holidays, then an adolescent hockey-player who starts up a relationship with a girl, a lonely but self-centred and manipulative manager, and finally a rural hunter of birds of prey. Yet he remains a man who is self-conscious and unsure of his surroundings. The stories seem quite ordinary, but they are left open-ended. The film has a wistful, dream-like atmosphere, emotions are kept hidden, festering below the surface. The mood changes – from the child’s carefree summer in the first film to the absurd character of the last film. All four stories are interwoven with a high measure of authenticity and sensitivity towards their insecure, withdrawn heroes. Vogelfrei won Latvia’s National Film Award for Best Screenplay, Best Photography and Best Film.

About the director

Anna Viduleja (b. 1972, Riga) studied direction at the Latvian Academy of Culture. She made the short films God’s Tears (1992), Wishes (1993), Candy (1995), Comet (1997), Greasy Spoon Caff (1999) and Nocturnal (2000).

Gatis Smits (b. 1963, Madona, Latvia) studied direction at the Latvian Academy of Culture and the Tisch School of the Arts in New York. He directed the shorts Never Let the Turkey Get You Down (2000), The Vision of Patricia M Logan (2000), Work (2001) and Agent Madly in Love (2002).

Janis Putnins (b. 1967, Riga) took courses in direction and media studies in the USA. He made the short film Sisyphus Said Yes (1992), the medium-length Investigation of Related Events (1993), the documentary Latvia So Close (1999) and his feature debut Hide and Seek (2001).

Janis Kalejs (b. 1965, Riga) attended the Latvian Conservatoire, then studied at Riga Motion Picture Studio. He made the film Matin dans une Forêt de Pins.

Contacts

Film Angels Studio
Kr. Valdemara 33-10a, LV-1010, Riga
Latvia
Tel: + 371 733 19 21
Fax: +371 733 19 33
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.angels.lv

About the film

Color, 35 mm

Section:	East of the West - Competition

Director:	Janis Kalejs, Gatis Smits, Jānis Putniņš, Anna Viduleja
Screenplay:	Janis Kalejs, Gatis Smits, Janis Putnins, Anna Viduleja
Dir. of Photography:	Andrij Parekh, Sam Moon, Gints Berzins
Editor:	Armands Blumbergs, Liene Balina, Jekabs Dimiters
Producer:	Sergejs Berdicevskis, Kaspars Rolsteins, Jurgis Liepnieks, Alise Gelze
Production:	Film Angels Studio
Cast:	Igors Suhoverhovs, Karlis Spravniks, Ints Teterovskis, Liubomiras Lauciavicius, Emilija Leiskalne, Irena Tjunina, Tatjana Jansone-Nazarova, Armands Reinfelds, Girts Krumins
Contact:	Film Angels Studio

www:	www.angels.lv/vogelfrei

Guests

Ieva Pitruka

Festival Organizer

Jānis Putniņš

Film Director, Film Director

Janis Kalejs

Film Director, Film Director