Original Title: Mamma vēl smaida
Logline
Three estranged sisters travel through the Baltics to fulfil their mother’s last wish to be buried in Latvia. But how can they get her there? Broke, heartbroken and desperate, the sisters fight old fights, commit new crimes, and confront their own demons, all with their dead mother looking down on them from the roof of their van.
Synopsis
Three estranged sisters living in separate Baltic countries must come together when their mother dies unexpectedly in Finland. To avoid exorbitant repatriation costs they undertake a road trip to Latvia – with Mom’s body hidden in the rooftop cargo carrier of their van. What could possibly go wrong? Along the way they pick up a charming hitchhiker, rekindle long-smoldering sibling rivalries and break more than a few laws as they struggle to fulfill their beloved mother’s last wish. Will they be able to reunite their deceased parents in a Latvian cemetery and find a way to become sisters again before they’re arrested or end up killing each other?
Technical Information
2022; Road-Movie, Comedy; Latvia; 94 minutes; DCP, ProResHQ; Aspect Ratio: 1:1,33; Original Language: Latvian, Finnish, English; Subtitles: English
Director
Elza Gauja
Screenwriter
Elza Gauja, Rasa Bugavičute-Pēce, Anta Aizupe, Baiba Broka, Daiga Kažociņa
Cinematographer
Aleksandrs Grebņevs, LGC
Producers
Andris Gauja, Elza Gauja
Production company
RIVERBED
Financed by
National Film Centre of Latvia, Ministry of Culture of Latvia, TV3 Group, Arkogints, SDG Lighting
Vera
Anta Aizupe
Aija
Baiba Broka
Žanna
Daiga Kažociņa
Mindaugas
Matīss Budovskis
Guntis
Jānis Skutelis
Elza Gauja
Elza Gauja graduated from the Latvian Academy of Culture as a film director, later studied acting and currently is doing her master studies in film directing. Elza has starred in theatrical performances and has won the Best Actress award at the Performing Arts Festival ‘Autumn of the Patriarch’. She also performs in feature films and was nominated for the Latvian Film Prize ‘Lielais Kristaps’ as the Best Actress. Elza is currently finishing her two debut feature films: the documentary ‘Meanwhile in Lucavsala’ and her road-movie / comedy / drama ‘Keep Smiling, Mom!’
coming soon…
coming soon…
