Doom 94 () is a semi-biographical novel by Latvian writer Jānis Joņevs about the generation living in Jelgava, Latvia, in the 1990s that searches for their own identity and are fans of alternative culture. This is his debut novel. Since 2016, this book has been translated into 11 languages and a movie was released in September 2019.
Plot The novel begins on April 5, 1994, the death of Kurt Cobain, the lead singer and guitarist of Nirvana. Cobain's death influences youngsters living in Jelgava, Latvia, to begin listening to heavy metal music. This is also the time that Latvia has recently regained its independence from the Soviet Union, causing economic and social upheaval. The book's main character Janis turns to the alternative lifestyle offered by an emergent heavy metal scene.
Translations Since 2016 the original book Jelgava 94 has already been translated into 11 languages – French, Slovenian, Norwegian, Estonian, Hungarian, Lithuanian, English, Bulgarian, Spanish, German and Finnish.
+ Translations of the ''Doom 94'' bookLanguageTitlePublisherTranslatorYear of releaseFrench"Metal"GAIA EditionsNicolas Auzanneau2016Slovenian"Metalci ‘94"MišJedrt Lapuh Maležič2016Norwegian"Fordømte 94"Bokbyen ForlagSnorre Karkonen-Svensson2016Estonian"Jelgava 94"RandveltMikk Grins2017Lithuanian"Jelgava 94"Kitos knygosJurgis Algimantas Banevičius2018Hungarian"Metál"Vince KiadóTölgyesi Beatrix2018English"Doom 94"Wrecking Ball PressKaija Straumanis2018Bulgarian"Йелгава 94"IzidaAlbena Metodieva2018Spanish"Jelgava"Abismos casa editorialAna Karenina O. Contreras2020German"Jelgava 94"parasitenpresseBettina Bergmann2022Finnish"Doom 94"SiltalaAnnika Suna2022
Awards
2014
European Union Prize for Literature Annual Latvian Literature Award in category "Best Debut’’ Latvian National Television award "Kilograms kultūras" Latvian National Library Children and Young Adults Jury award, 15+ category Bookshop's "Jānis Roze" most sold book of 2014
2015
AKKA/LAA "Author award of 2015"
Film Work on a film adaptation of the book called Jelgava 94 began in 2017. The film was released in September 2019. Movie scenes were filmed in many locations throughout Riga and Jelgava, and at a former school in Priekuļi Municipality. The main actor was Bruno Bitenieks who was a student at Riga Teika Secondary School. The film received funding from the National Film Center and is supported by Jelgava Municipality. The film was produced by Jura Podnieka studija. +ScriptwriterMatīss GricmanisCinematographerAigars SērmukšsProduction designerAivars ŽukovskisProducerAntra Cilinska
References