Homes
A delightful observational movie, which uncovers DOP Gints Bērziņš as the key protagonist. We almost don’t see him, but constantly hear his voice with precise instructions. Laila and Gints developed a wonderful idea to witness the lives of different Latvian citizens. They visit versatile families, loners and dogs to break their daily routines. Patient guests politely ask friendly hosts to leave their homes, turn around in front of the window and stand calmly for 1 minute.
While Laila melancholically captures the passing time, Gints uses all his charms to choreograph preferably short scenes, which inspire us smile, wonder, marvel, dream.
Filmmakers travel from house to house and the episodic structure never brings any boredom to the kitchen or living room as we feel fascinated to follow more of such unpredictable occasional encounters.
Edvinas Pukšta
Laila Pakalniņa (1962) graduated in film direction from the Moscow Film Institute (VGIK) and has directed over 30 documentaries and fiction films. Pakalnina appeared on the international scene when two of her documentaries were chosen for Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes film festival. Her first feature film, “The Shoe”, was a return to Soviet Union in 1950s (PÖFF 1998). Pakalnina’s second feature “The Python” was selected at Venice Film Festival programme and was shown also at PÖFF. Pakalnina’s documentary “Three Men and Fishbound” (2008, co-directed with Maris Maskalans) won the Best Baltic Film prize at PÖFF. Her films “Dawn” (2015) and “In the Mirror” (2020) have also participated in PÖFF's Main Competition programme.
Filmography:
(Valik/Selected): Kurpe (King, PÖFF 1998), Pitons (Püüton, PÖFF 2003), Kilnieks (Koer, lennuk ja laulupidu, PÖFF 2006), Par dzimteniti (Kolm meest ja kalatiik, doc, PÖFF 2008, co-dir), 33 Zveri Ziemassvetku Vecitim (Jõuluvana 33 looma, doc, 2011), Ausma (Koidik, PÖFF 2015), Karote (Lusikas, doc, PÖFF 2019), Spoguli (Peegelpildis, PÖFF 2020), Mājas (Kodud, PÖFF 2021, doc), Termini (2024, doc), Putnubiedēkļi (Scarecrows, 2025)
Award for Best Baltic Film, grant of 5000€ from Piletilevi
