From 16 to 23 April in Old Riga, at the “Happy Art Museum” on the 7th floor of the Galerija Riga shopping centre, the 19th film forum “And the Word Became Film” will take place.
Sun., 16.04 at 15.00 opening
“The Gospel According to St. Matthew” (Il Vangelo Secondo Matteo), director Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1964, 136′
The life, death and resurrection of Christ in a deeply personal film, whose leading roles are played by a Spanish student and the director’s mother. Within the framework of his critical view of the world, Pasolini in this gospel highlighted its social aspect, creating a poetics of naive, at times magical realism. With its austere simplicity, the purity of its historical colour and its passionate artistic power, “The Gospel According to St. Matthew” won recognition at the Venice Film Festival: the Special Jury Prize and the OCIC Award.
Mon., 17.04 at 18.00
“Into Great Silence” (Die grosse Stille), director Philip Gröning, 2005, 164′
For more than half a year, the director stayed at the Carthusian monastery “Grande Chartreuse” in the French Alps, taking part in the monks’ daily life, rituals, work and prayers. A unique opportunity to listen to this silence, in order to sense, perceive and also hear the flow of time, the change of the seasons, the contemplative existence of the monks. The silent film is not mute – their life, between renunciation and personal enrichment, is documented in outstanding sound quality. Recognized as the best European documentary film.
Tue., 18.04 at 18.00
“God Willing” (God Willing), director Edoardo Maria Falcone, 2015, 84′
The well-known, highly successful surgeon Tommaso is conceited, proud and arrogant, and on top of that an unwavering atheist. Tommaso’s world begins to crumble the moment his only son Andrea comes out with an unexpected announcement – he wants to become a priest. Tommaso refuses to accept both his son’s choice and the decisions of his wife Carla and daughter Bianca. This could be an opportunity to reassess his life. Falcone received the David di Donatello and the award of the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists as best director.
Wed., 19.04 at 15.00 “Wild Field” (Dikoje pole), director Mikhail Kalatozishvili, 2008, 108′
A young country doctor lives far away from the world – in the last bastion of civilization. Quite literally all living beings are brought to him for treatment. The desolate landscape seems forsaken by God, yet the man at its centre affirms the possibility of a meaningful, humane and happy existence, in spite of any circumstances, even – confrontation with death.
The FIPRESCI and Ecumenical Jury Award at the Cottbus Festival.
Thu., 20.04 at 18.00
“The Chronicles of Melanie”, director Viesturs Kairišs, 2016, 120′
The film is based on motifs from the memoir novel “On the Bank of the River of the Dead” by the writer Melānija Vanaga. The dreams of youth, the best years of life, health, home, husband, son, one’s own land – Soviet power took it all away, yet she survived. Only those who, despite all the horrors they endured, were able to keep alive their hope for Latvia, for a return home, withstood this path. Those strong in spirit and faith withstood it. And such is also the main heroine of the story, Melānija. After the screening – a conversation with the director.
Fri., 21.04 at 18.00
“The Milky Way” (La voie lactee), director Luis Buñuel, 1969, 105′
Two vagabonds walk from Paris to Santiago de Compostela, navigating by the stars of the Milky Way. Their hopes for gifts of grace are unexpectedly crowned with an encounter with “god” himself, who invites the two “unworthy” men to strange deeds… Their path leads through the history of the Church (including its dark pages). The “Interfilm” award at the Berlin Film Festival.
After the film – a meeting with present-day pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela, led by Pastor Ivars Jēkabsons.
Sat., 22.04 at 15.00
“The Burning One”, director Jānis Putniņš, 2016, 55′
“To speak about Ilya Rips means to speak about an otherness that does not submit to description or to being captured on film” (Putniņš): the story of an attempt at self-immolation at the Freedom Monument is an old one, his theory about the sequence of letters in the Book of Genesis – a complex one. Documentary footage, Israel today, archival material – a dense cinematic work with experimental shots and the codes of film history. The director’s voice-over draws one into a meditation on themes that are also present in Daina Dagnija’s cycle of paintings “The Fallen”.
Sat., 22.04 at 18.00
“The Flowers of St. Francis” (Francesco, Giullare di Dio), director Roberto Rossellini, 1950, 85′
A phenomenon that left its mark on the history of Western Europe: Brother Francesco and the brothers of his order, clad in habits, barefoot, poor but joyful, seek unity, find humility and praise God. The film about the “saints” uses eleven of the “Little Flowers of St. Francis”, where poetry is revealed by stylistic means close to the documentary quality of neorealism – the monks are portrayed by the monks of the Nocera monastery, and only one professional actor takes part in the film – Aldo Fabrizi (the tyrant Nicolaio).
Sunday, 23.04 at 14.00
“Aspirin for the Commander” (Aspirin dlya Komandora), director Roman Nesterenko, 2016,
This short film by Riga-born actor and director Roman Nesterenko is based on motifs from the story “Sazonov” by the early-20th-century “king of laughter” Arkady Averchenko. It is a “Chekhovian comedy” observed in the neighbours’ room – it could have happened both in the days of Don Juan and in our own times – fortune does not love the lazy and the timid. “To be or not to be” – that is the theme of the film.
A conversation with the director.
16.00 – the film chosen by the audience
The films are translated into Latvian, except for “Wild Field” and “Aspirin for the Commander”.
Admission by donation.