Latvia, which broke away from the Soviet Republic 25 yeas ago, is among the least populous in the European Union with around two million people. It produces five to six films a year with a fairly substantial financial assistance from the State. But with most privately-owned multiplexes choosing to run Hollywood films, Latvian films don’t have it easy, says Juris Poskus, the director of Kolka Cool . This film is among the two Latvian films at the ongoing Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes), the other film being Mother, I Love You.
He says that the Kolka Cool attempts to break away from European cinema “which is oversaturated with realism” and depicts life in a small village on the Baltic coast with humour, in black-and-white format. Mr. Poskus says that Latvia has a very different film culture where a director is in command, unlike in India where star system rules. However, he believes that Indian films are doing extremely well right now.
