“Exiled” to be Premiered Internationally at Class “A” Film Festival in Moscow

On June 26, at the 38th Moscow International Film Festival, the official program will host International Premiere of director Dāvis Sīmanis’ and studio “Locomotive” film “Exiled”.

This year, the Moscow International Film Festival will take place June 23-30, and will feature Dāvis Sīmanis’ film at the Spectrum program. The program’s curator, filmmaker, film historian and publicist Piotr Chepotinnik says the program is made up of several, completely different movies, but that all are “defiant and show maximum auteur”. From the six films in the program, “Exiled” stands out as “interwoven with existential alienation, a masterfully shot tale of tragedy, the author of which is extremely promising Latvian director Dāvis Sīmanis”.

National Film Centre director and film critic Dita Rietuma recalls: “Moscow Film Festival is one of the oldest in the world, it was founded in 1935 – only a few years after the world’s first film festival in Venice – and the jury of the first Moscow festival was headed by Riga-born genius Sergei Eisenstein”. Moscow’s festival has a rich history, granting it the elite A-class brand, and is still widely regarded as a significant international film festival with programs that are curated by high-end film specialists. The fact that Dāvis Sīmanis’ film “Exiled” will premiere there is a testament to the film’s strong artistic potential.

The high-profile film’s Latvian premiere took place in late January, and “Exiled” received wide public interest and positive reviews from film critics. From now, following its international debut at one of the oldest and most acclaimed of the world’s film festivals, the film will continue its run with viewers elsewhere in the world –the film rights have already been purchased by many television channels, including the well-known HBO known for producing and distributing high-quality television films and serials (including Gus van Sant’s Elephant and Game of Thrones).

The film is director Dāvis Sīmanis’ first full-length work of the fiction genre. The screenwriters are Dāvis Sīmanis and Tabita Rudzāte; the film’s story is based upon the real historical events following the First World War – this was a time when the horrors of war had destroyed cherished illusions of the rational and modern world, and the people that occupied it.

Film producer Roberts Vinovskis regarding the international premiere highlights: “I believe that considering the film’s international premiere is at one of the best A-class film festivals in the world, it means a lot for the film’s quality and honour, but also the fact that it’s in Moscow is just as meaningful. The current political situation in the context of an important film reminds viewers – in spite of the Russian ruled elite policies implemented, war is useless and cannot be justified under any circumstances, only bringing misery and destruction”.

The film takes place during the last days of war in Kurzeme (Courland) – retired German military doctor Ulrich is sent to a remote sanatorium, home to contuse and mentally traumatised soldiers. Ulrich reveals a strange dreamy world of peace and forgetfulness, which tests his rational mind and determination to “bring order”. In addition, in the forest surrounding the sanatorium wanders a wild boy, who Ulrich attempts to bring back and reintegrate into civilisation. The boy’s domestication brings a release of emotion, for Ulrich too – the salvation from war experienced as proof of humanity-saving power. But the war is not over yet and will eventually reach this place of refuge.

The films leading role is played by German actor and film star Ulrich Matthes, one of today’s most prominent contemporary German actors. Outside of Germany his best-known works are the role of Joseph Goebbels in the film Downfall / Der Untergang (2004), and a major role in Volker Schlöndorff’s film The Ninth Day / Der neunte Tag (2004). Supporting actors: Agnese Cīrule, Leonīds Lencs, Pēteris Liepiņš, Dmitrijs Jaldovs, Marina Janaus and others. The film “Exiled” was produced in collaboration with Studio Uljana Kim of Lithuania, the National Film Centre, the State Culture Capital Fund and with MEDIA fund financial support.

Film director Dāvis Simanis has created many internationally assessed documentaries: Valkyrie Limited (2009), Sounds under the Sun (2010), Escaping Riga (2014); he is a well-known film theoretician, a Doctor of the Arts and Assistant Director at the Latvian Academy of Culture, and a prestigious professor at Aalto University in Finland. The film’s creative team also includes director of photography Andrejs Rudzāts, artist Kristīne Jurjāne and composer Andris Dzenītis.

Studio Locomotive’s past year has been particularly busy – the studio worked on films Rocks in My Pockets (director Signe Baumane), People Out There (Aiks Karapetjans), Pelican in the Desert (Viestur Kairish) and many others. In 2014, during the National Film Festival Lielais Kristaps studio’s works received seven awards, but currently the studio is working on Aik Karapetian’s feature film Firstborn. Roze Steibra’s full-length animated film The Sun Rides up into the Sky has received support in the program Latvian Films for Latvian Centenary.

Further information
Liene Ančupāne
liene@locomotive.lv
Tel: +371 26443883

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