The Year Before the War

2021

  |  

1 h 35 min
As Europe teeters on the brink of World War I, Hans (Petr Buchta), an ordinary doorman in Riga, is swept into a whirlwind of radical ideologies, political upheaval, and rising nationalism. His journey becomes an odyssey across a continent in turmoil, carrying him from utopian communes to imperial capitals. Bearing witness to violence, passion and intrigue, he crosses paths with some of the era’s most influential figures – including Mata Hari, Sigmund Freud, Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, and Leon Trotsky – amid the unraveling of the old order.

Director:

Davis Simanis

Producers:

Roberts Vinovskis

Actors:

Petr Buchta, Inga Silina, Girts Kesteris, Lauris Dzelzitis, Eduards Johansons, Gints Gravelis

Languages:

German

Awards & Festivals:

World Premiere - International Film Festival Rotterdam
Official Selection - Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival - Baltic Film Competition