Already this week, on October 1, Latvian cinemas will receive the historical multi-series film “Emilija. Queen of the Latvian Press”, which tells the story of the interwar queen of the Latvian press, “Jaunjaun Ziņu” and “Atpūtas” Emīlija Benjamiņš, whose personality, wealth and tragic fate have become about the legend of Latvian history, informs the filmmakers.
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“From October to November, cinemas will have the opportunity to see the film in screenings – two new feature film series every week, as well as a documentary series. At the request of the audience, we have created copies of the film adapted to the cinema screen, both in terms of image and sound, and after the screenings we organize several meetings with the creative group in Riga and series will reach viewers, “says one of the film’s producers Inese Boka-Grūbe.
The multi-series film “Emilija. Queen of the Latvian Press” is planned to be shown in cinemas in Riga (“Splendid Palace”, “Forum Cinemas”, “K. Suns”, “Kino Bize”), Vidzeme Concert Hall “Cēsis” (Cinema Hall), Liepāja Concert Hall “Lielais amber “and in Rezekne Latgale embassy” Gors “. Cinema-goers will be able to watch the film in cinemas in several screenings, the filmmakers point out.
Viewers will also have the opportunity to meet with the film’s creative team – on October 3, after the film screening in the cinema “Splendid Palace”, a meeting with directors Andis Mizišs and Kristīne Želvi is expected, and on October 8, after the first series of the film and producer Gints Grūbi, film artist Kristīne Jurjāni and series actors Edgars Ozoliņš and Inga Trop-Fischer.
According to the filmmakers, all cinema series will be available to the audience in the cinema repertoire: from October 1 – series 1 and 2, as well as a documentary about Emilia Benjamin; from October 8 – 3rd and 4th series; from October 22 – 5th and 6th series.
“The work has been done and is done, and I want to look further. It is a compliment to a complicated story about a very complex character and a very interesting stage in the history of Latvia and the Latvian press. As a person from the Latvian media environment, director of the film center Dita Rietuma.
“It was a wonderful and exciting story about a very inspiring personality. I don’t think Guna Zariņa can do anything wrong at all. I really, really want to see the third series. series, “says film critic and director Marta Elīna Martisone.
The multi-series film “Emilija. The Queen of the Latvian Press” can be seen in seven series – six feature films and one documentary series, covering the period from the beginnings of the magazine “Atpūta” published by Emilija Benjamiņa to her death in Siberia. Each series depicts a significant stage in Emilia Benjamin’s life, showing different aspects of her personality – family life, entrepreneurship, strengthening social status, influence on political and cultural developments in the 1920s and 1930s and, ultimately, the betrayal of the employees themselves, the filmmakers say. With this strong woman in the center of the story, the Latvian society in all its colors is shown in the film, and viewers will recognize many historical figures – Antons Benjamins, Jānis Benjamins, Kārlis Skalbs, Jānis Ziemeļnieki, Kirhenstein.
The film shows many well-known and beloved actors in Latvia: in the role of Emilija Benjamiņa – actress Guna Zariņa, Antonis Benjamiņš is played by Juris Bartkevičs, Jānis Benjamiņš – Raimonds Celms. The film also features such outstanding actors as Baiba Broka, Ligita Dēvica, Inga Tropa, Artūrs Skrastiņš, Anta Aizupe, Ģirts Krūmiņš. Gatis Maliks, Arnolds Osis and others.
The production of the multi-series film “Emilija. Queen of the Latvian Press” was started in September 2020, filming took place in historical places related to the story of the film – both in Benjamin House in Riga and in Valdeki Manor; The documentary series uses unique archival materials of the Benjamin family, according to the filmmakers.
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