The Beginning
Reflections of Time: Baltic Poetic Documentary 2018 / Sākums / Latvia 1961
The Beginning is the first instalment of Brauns’s trilogy dedicated to large-scale construction development in Latvia. It captures the building process of a hydroelectric station on the country’s largest river. Observation of the builders, drivers, and engineers at work highlights the human aspect of construction work.
Synopsis
The Beginning is the first installment in Brauns’ trilogy dedicated to large-scale construction development in Latvia. It captures the building process of the Pļaviņas hydroelectric station on the country’s largest river. Observation of the builders, drivers, and engineers at work highlights the human aspect of construction work. The film’s title carries symbolic weight – this is the first Riga school film, Brauns’ directorial debut, the first widescreen picture made in Latvia, and the first part of a trilogy.
Zane Balčus
About the film
10 min / Black & white, DCP
Director Uldis Brauns
/ Screenplay Armīns Lejiņš
/ Dir. of Photography Uldis Brauns
/ Production Riga Film Studio
/ Sales National Film Centre of Latvia
About the director
Uldis Brauns (1932–2017). Selected filmography: The Beginning (Sākums, 1961), The Building (Celtne, 1962), The Worker (Strādnieks,1963), 235 000 000 (1967), Motorcycle Summer (Motociklu vasara, 1975), A Trip to Earth (Ceļojums uz zemi,1977), Goodbye, XXth Century (Ardievu, XX gadsimt!, 2005)
Contacts
National Film Centre of Latvia
Peitavas street 10, LV - 1050, Riga
Latvia
Phone: +371 673 588 78, +371 673 588 66
Fax: + 371 673 588 77
E-mail: nkc@nkc.gov.lv
Guests
Dita Rietuma
Film Institution Rep.
