Maria's Silence [+lire aussi :
critique
interview : Dāvis Sīmanis
fiche film], the latest work by Dāvis Sīmanis (Exiled [+lire aussi :
bande-annonce
fiche film], The Mover [+lire aussi :
bande-annonce
fiche film], The Year before the War [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Dāvis Sīmanis
fiche film]), will have its international premiere in the Forum section of the 74th Berlin International Film Festival (see the news). The main actors in the film are Olga Šepicka, Artūrs Skrastiņš, Ģirts Ķesteris, Inese Kučinska and Vilis Daudziņš (see the news).

The period drama is based on the true story of silent-movie star and theatre actress Marija Leiko who, late in her career, had to decide between fame and her love for her grandchild, between her ideals and the lies of Stalin’s totalitarian regime. She is tricked into travelling to Stalin’s Russia in search of her daughter, only to discover that her offspring has died giving birth to a little girl. With a motherless baby on her hands and being offered a new career in Soviet theatre, Marija decides to stay in Red Terror-torn Russia.

“Silent-movie actress Marija Leiko’s life is the perfect ground to reveal the scale of the cruelty of a demonic political regime and to tell a biographical story about a strong personality and an outstanding actress,” says the director.

For producer Gints Grūbe (of Mistrus Media), “The fact that Maria’s Silence will have its world premiere at the Berlinale makes us think about the twists and turns of history and how they have affected the life of actress Leiko.”

Maria’s Silence is a co-production between Latvia (Mistrus Media) and Lithuania (Broom Films). The film received backing from the National Film Centre of Latvia, the Lithuanian Film Centre, Latvian Television and the Creative Europe – MEDIA programme. The project was developed at the ScripTeast workshop and EAVE.

Check out our exclusive poster below: