The Year Before the War (Latvian: Gads pirms kara) is a 2021 surrealist historical thriller film co-written and directed by Dāvis Sīmanis. It is about the journey across Europe of Peter Piaktow, a foreign Latvian anarchist. It is a co-production between Latvia, the Czech Republic and Lithuania.
Synopsis Shortly before the outbreak of World War I, Peter Piaktow attempts to unravel a conspiracy by traveling across Europe and meeting with communist leaders.
Cast
Petr Buchta as Peter Piaktow Rudolfs Apse as Broz Tito Lauris Dzelzitis as Lenin Gints Gravelis as Trotsky Eduards Johansons as Stalin Edgars Kaufelds as Hitler Ģirts Ķesteris as Freud Daniel Sidon as Franz Kafka Inga Silina as Alma Igors Jakimenko as Lackey with a chair at the hotel
Production Principal photography began in January 2019 and wrapped in late January 2020. Filming took place on location in Pļaviņas, Cinevilla, Riga, Sloka, Talsi and Praga.
Release The Year Before the War had its world premiere on February 5, 2021, at the 50th International Film Festival Rotterdam, then screened on October 21, 2021, at the 8th Riga International Film Festival, on November 5, 2021, at the 29th International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography Camerimage, and on November 26, 2021, at the 25th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.
The film was commercially released on April 15, 2022, in Latvian theaters.
Accolades YearAward / FestivalCategoryRecipientResultRef.202150th International Film Festival RotterdamBig Screen AwardThe Year Before the War8th Riga International Film FestivalBest Film2022Latvian National Film FestivalBest DirectorDāvis SīmanisBest ActorPetr BuchtaBest Supporting ActorLauris DzelzitisBest ScreenplayDāvis Sīmanis, Tabita Rudzate & Uldis TironsBest CinematographyAndrejs RudzatsBest EditingAnna RyndováBest Costume DesignKristine JurjaneBest Production DesignBest SoundSaulius Urbanavicius
References
External links