‘Escaping Riga & The Chronicles of the Last Temple - Davis Simanis’

18:00 Chronicles of the Last Temple - Davis Simanis
(LV, 2012, 58’, OV, st EN)
Chronicles of the Last Temple tells a minimalistic, metaphorical story of a building in the making – the Latvian National Library. From the very beginnings of construction through the formation of the silhouette of the library, the viewers see a visual symphony that resembles a mythological and ritual order by which temples were built back in history.  Filmmaker Davis Simanis, quoting American architect Louis Kahn, states: “Outstanding buildings begin in the immeasurable level, become themselves in the measurable level and must be finished in the immeasurable level.”

20:00 Escaping Riga - Davis Simanis
(LV/RUS/UK, 2014, 69’, OV, st: EN)
Two young boys are forced to escape their native city of Riga as the First World War is transforming the existing world. Later these same boys turn out to be among the most extraordinary personalities of the previous century: one becomes a leading commie film director and the other a mentor to the entire British Empire. Funny, deadly, sad and sexy adventures follow on their lifelong journey to become geniuses. This story will reveal the secrets of the remarkably parallel lives of and friendship between Sergei Eisenstein and Isaiah Berlin against the backdrop of the dramatic events of the first half of the 20th century.