As the director himself says in an interview Latvian radio 1, is a contemporary drama about the present. The story is about a girl, Laina, who, trying to escape the problems of her family and university, ends up in the clandestine rave parties in Riga, where anything is possible.
The movie “Neon Spring”
Photo: advertising image
Divorce and abandonment of children, difficulties and bullying at school, the pursuit of identity and sexuality, as well as alcohol and drug abuse are problems that almost all young people face. Broken sentences, confused looks, clouds of cigarette smoke, loud music speak for themselves in the film without trying to simplify or solve these problems. The viewer can follow Laine, gradually getting to know the world of raves and the intoxicating magic of drugs, which somehow helps to be here and now, without thinking about the consequences and tomorrow. At no time does the creative team judge you or teach you what is right or wrong. This, in my opinion, is an important point, because it will be easier for a young audience to identify with the characters.
The movie “Neon Spring”
Photo: advertising image
“Neon Spring” is a beautiful story about the love of two girls. It is made beautiful by the portrait of Marija Luiza Meľke and Greta Trušina. Not forced, free, without stereotypes or clichés. I can believe it and sympathize with it, and this is something new in Latvian cinema.
For the first time, it is so difficult to experience spring in autumn. Probably because it’s very cold and spring never came, maybe because so many things have changed in my life: I’m just in a completely new place with so many questions in the air. Like Laine in “Neon in the Spring”. Personally, I understand I made it through the first half of the film: it doesn’t happen in real life, people don’t talk like that and – what’s this rave in Kaugur? When the film is about to end, I realize that the reason for my resistance is another: I don’t want to have those feelings, those emotions, that weight, that feeling that nothing will improve, everything will be exactly the same both on screen and elsewhere, and this it’s so scary. At least right now it really frightens me. I understand that the war is near, the pandemic is not over, there will be big changes in politics and we will not see the registration of relationships for all couples for another couple of decades, but I am so afraid of the cold that can come between people. I was so immersed in the movie and didn’t want to go out.
The movie “Neon Spring”
Photo: advertising image
Rave parties with the good guys for the beats, neon lights, dancing and smoke (thanks to the music writers and the masters of editing) lead Laini into a sort of trance. With the help of long shots and close-ups, I also experienced something akin to the rave vibe. It’s hot, it’s fine and you can be whatever you want, but all the problems disappear. Therefore, the contrast with the other scenes in the film is even greater, where the dialogues are interrupted, the thoughts are unfinished, everything seems gray, boring, very slow and burdensome and limiting the exciting rave. Following young people is boring and sometimes even uncomfortable because they are easily broken, open and honest. Life is also often gray and monotonous, but God forbid, show it in art!
The film tells about the current problems and the current Riga, which is constantly evolving.
It is interesting to observe the former Riga Circus building with its beautiful murals, various clubs with exciting interiors, the industrial part of Riga where people don’t wander so often. Riga is so beautiful at night and the film is good proof of that. And where exactly do these raves take place in Kaugur? Because I have a ticket, please!
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