Premiere of Short Film LOW PROFILE at Club NABAKLAB

Yesterday afternoon we dropped in to club NABAKLAB, where the premiere of the short film LOW PROFILE (2012), made by cinema enthusiasts, was taking place. The club's small hall was full of interested viewers. The film runs up to 15 minutes. It was watched twice.

Director and screenwriter Artis Dobrovoļskis spoke about the making of the film and answered questions from those present. It turns out the material for the film was shot back in late autumn 2011, followed by a long editing process. Jānis Jankevics, who had travelled specially from Liepāja for the event, also spoke about the assembly work.

Alija Turlaja, head of the Sarkandaugava Development Association, expressed satisfaction that the entire action of the film was shot mainly in Sarkandaugava, immortalising places familiar and important to all Sarkandaugava residents, such as the old Provodnik buildings and Dauderi Park with its artificial castle-ruin tower.

This project is entirely non-commercial, based on the voluntary work of 14 people. The plot outline: a young man (played by Jurģis Rāts) feels sharp pains in the region of his heart, calls an ambulance from Dunte Street, and the doctor (the role played by a real medical professional, Edgars Bodnieks) advises him to step away from sitting at his computer and take more frequent walks around his neighbourhood. The main character obliges and during these walks looks at the environment in which he lives with different eyes. The motif of life's passing and the changing of generations is sketched by a third figure (played by Juris Rāts - Jurģis's father).

When asked why this particular plot line was chosen, the film's creator Artis explained that he himself grew up and studied in Sarkandaugava, at the 28th secondary school on Gaujienas Street, and so while walking through his home neighbourhood, the idea arose to film at least a short film. This film is more thought-provoking in nature, but the next one, which is already in production and will see the light of day at the end of summer, will be a comedy about life in a communal apartment.

Without doubt, LOW PROFILE is a mood film. The plot or the thought contained in it might still be debated, but in my view it was an excellent idea to include in the film the poetry of Gatis Zotovs, which is truly enjoyable. The AON music also nicely complements and enriches the emotional backdrop. In any case it is a pleasure to see fellow people who are doing, creating and telling the story of their neighbourhood, their environment, their city, their country.