Blizzard of Souls
Eastern European Cinema • Action, Drama
BLIZZARD OF SOULS pays stark witness to the brutality and horror of the First World War, as seen through the eyes of an innocent 17-year-old farm boy turned soldier. After witnessing his mother's execution, Arturs is conscripted into one of Latvia’s first national battalions along with his father, a former marksman. As their regiment tries to survive the trenches, his wide-eyed and naive search for glory is soon derailed by the grim realities of war.
Adapted from the international bestseller by Aleksandrs Grins, BLIZZARD OF SOULS was based on the writer's own war experiences in a Latvian battalion. The film would go on to become Latvia's biggest box office success in 30 years and was the country's official Oscar entry for Best International Film while earning composer Lolita Ritmanis recognition on the Academy Awards shortlist for Best Original Score.
“An honest yet frenzied interpretation of the veracity of warfare, with utterly breathtaking cinematography, reminiscent of the brilliance of BAND OF BROTHERS.” –The Upcoming
DIRECTED BY DZINTARS DREIBERGS
LATVIA | 2019 | LATVIAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
Up Next in Eastern European Cinema
-
When the Trees Fall
Five-year-old Vitka and her teenage cousin Larysa both yearn for a life beyond the archaic rules and restricting confines of their small, godforsaken Ukrainian village. Despite her family's staunch objections, Larysa falls wildly in love with Scar, a handsome ex-convict. Hoping to leave their tro...
-
The Last Family
Despite his hardcore sexual fantasies and his fondness for painting disturbing dystopian works, Zdzisław Beksiński (Andrzej Seweryn) is a gentle, family man who wants only the best for his loving wife Zofia, neurotic son Tomasz, and the couple’s aging mothers. Never one to believe that life would...
-
Corpus Christi
After years in juvenile prison, 20-year-old Daniel is released and sent to a small village to work as a manual laborer. Upon his arrival, a quick lie has him mistaken for a priest. Though untrained, his passion and charisma inspire the community. At the same time, his unconventional sermons and u...
