Director Signe Birkova starts filming the comedy “Lotus” / Article

“Lotus” is presented as a comic phantasmagoric story about the German-Baltic Countess Alice von Trot – a woman “outsider” who is a stranger between her own and her own among strangers, but, overcoming physical, mental and prejudiced obstacles, becomes a filmmaker of Latvian silent cinema. The stylized costume film will intertwine elements of various film genres and quotes from world cinema masterpieces – attentive viewers will be able to see references to Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Wales, Andrei Tarkovsky and others. At the same time, it is the director’s confession of love for silent cinema: the film will feature several episodes of what is said to be the main character, and to give more authenticity to these stylized fragments of silent cinema, they were shot with an authentic 1921 cinema camera. “for filming. The film itself is not shot with digital film cameras, but in analog format, on 16 mm Kodak film.

“As a result of a happy coincidence in the story of the film, German-Baltic Countess Alise von Trot becomes an avant-garde seminar countess in Latvian silent cinema. As a result of a happy coincidence, Severija Janušauskaite “Severia is an actress with unparalleled cinematic charisma and overflowing emotional power,” said the film ‘s protagonist Signe Birkova.

Severija Janušauskaite is an actress of Lithuanian theater and cinema who has gained international recognition and recognition for her participation in the series “Babylon Berlin” (2017). Latvian viewers have already met actress Jevgenijs Paškēvičs in “What Silent Gerda Knows” (2020) and Tom Vengra’s film “Motherland” (2019).

Viewers will also see Baiba Broka, Vili Daugiņa, Mārtiņš Kalītis, Rēzija Kalniņš, Andis Strods, Iveta Poli, Āri Matesovičs, Jana Čivželi, Laumu Balodi and others.

Lotus director Signe Birkova has made feature films, experimental animated films, documentaries and analogue cinema performances. In October, the director celebrated the premiere of her first documentary film “Fire Circle” at the Riga International Film Festival. The film “I Will Return Like a Glowing Rose” won the Latvian “Fipresci” award in 2014, has been shown in syphilis shows in many countries. Signe Birkova is also a co-founder and member of Baltic Analog Lab.

The film is expected to be screened in 2023, its authors call it a “red-and-white-red comedy” and promise that “Lotus” will be an intense, adventurous and humorous film that will evoke a lot of emotion and a strong experience.

Signe Birkova is the author and director of the film’s script, cinematographer – Mārtiņš Jurevics, artist – Mārtiņš Straupe, costume designer – Jurate Silakaktina.

“Lotus” tops in “Lokomotīve” Studio, the producers are Roberts Vinovskis and Dominiks Jarmakovičs, the film is co-produced by “Studio Uljana Kim” on the Lithuanian side.

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