17-09-2019

FNE Oscar Watch 2020: Latvia Selects The Mover as Oscar Bid

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    The Mover by Dāvis Sīmanis The Mover by Dāvis Sīmanis photo: Mistrus Media

    RIGA: The historic drama The Mover / Tēvs nakts directed by Dāvis Sīmanis has been selected as Latvia’s candidate for the 92nd Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences award in the best international feature film category.

    The film, set in Riga against the backdrop of WWII, is about a Latvian worker who shelters Jews during the German occupation.

    Hardly anyone would have predicted that Žanis Lipke would miraculously become a hero. He was a completely ordinary Latvian blue-collar worker. In order to be able to support his family under wartime conditions, he worked at the German military aviation warehouses and supplemented his income by smuggling at night. This film attempts to answer the question whether Žanis’ courage stems from his adventurous and daring spirit, stubbornness, or a sense of responsibility towards people in need.

    The cast includes Artūrs Skrastiņš, Ilze Blauberga, Leonīds Lencs and Matīss Kipļuks.

    The film had its international premiere at the Moscow IFF 2019 and its national premiere on 18 October 2018.

    It was produced by Mistrus Media. The project was supported by the National Film Centre of Latvia.

    Click HERE for the press release.