Liene Linde and Armands Začs’ documentary “Presence” will premiere / Article / LSM.lv

On Saturday, November 14 at 19:00 in the program of the National Film Award “Lielais Kristaps” on the portal filmas.lv will be the premiere of directors Liene Linde and Armands Začs documentary “Presence”, which reveals the experiences and reflections of four Latvian women during pregnancy, informed the studio “Ego Media “representatives.

The film, which is eligible for this year’s “Big Kristaps” in two categories – “Best Feature Documentary” and “Best Documentary Film Direction” – will be available on several Internet platforms from November 16.

The documentary “Presence” closely portrays the stories and experiences of four Latvian women during pregnancy. Choreographer Rūta longs to return to dancing while waiting for her second child. Beata has never wanted children, but is conscientiously preparing for the role of mother. During her second pregnancy, she was afraid that the postpartum depression she had already experienced would not be repeated. For Valery, a child means hope for the beginning of a new and better life.

All four women provide an intimate and open insight into the life changes and emotional challenges experienced by a woman who, in addition to her other social roles, takes on the role of mother.

The documentary “Presence” was made by two directors, Liene Linde and Armands Začs, and has been made for almost four years. Armands Začs revealed: “The idea for the film came shortly after the birth of my son Miķelis. I was amazed at how little I know about the feelings that can accompany a woman during pregnancy. In the process of filming, I was pleasantly surprised by how willingly our The heroines share their feelings and thoughts. It could even be said that they felt the need to express themselves. I hope that this film will evoke openness and deepen the empathy with which we look at the seemingly self-evident processes of our lives. “

Liene Linde remarked: “During the making of the film we often heard a surprised question – isn’t such a film already there? Strange, but there hasn’t been one in Latvia – despite the fact that pregnancy is the most directly related to the continuation of all humanity. “It is customary to look at it as private or almost secret, it is not common to talk about it out loud or in depth. With the film” Presence “we want to reduce this atmosphere of secrecy, as well as say thank you to all the women who take on the difficult and unique role of mother.”

Director Armands Začs has so far worked as an editing director, for example, in the feature film “City by the River” (2020, nominated for editing this year’s “Big Kristaps”), in the documentary “Spy, Who is My Father” (2019, received “Big Kristaps For editing) and Lustrum (2018) in the feature film What They Don’t See (2017). As a director, Liene Linde has made the feature films “Seven Awkward Sex Times” (2016) and “Four Feasts” (2012), both of which have been awarded “Big Kristaps” as the best student films.

“The film comes out at a time when there is a lot of talk about the lack of women’s stories in Latvian cinema.” Presence “proves that there are such stories, we also have directors. I would not like to highlight it, but rather accept it as the norm,” says producer Guntis Trekteris.

The cinematographer of the film “Presence” is Reinis Aristovs, the sound director is Artis Dukaļskis, the original music of the film is composed by Jānis Ruņģis.

At the moment, when it is not possible for viewers to be present in cinemas, the film “Presence” will be available on the Internet – from November 16 the film will be available on “Vimeo”, LMT Smart TV, “Shortcut” and “Helio iTV”, as well as on the “Kino Bize” cinema platform. Home cinema ”.

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