A sunny and nostalgic story of growing up on the edge of political changes
Summer 1989. Paula and Laura from Riga come to a small town to visit their cousins for the summer. Left to themselves, girls enjoy freedom, pretend to be adults, seek adventure, and get into trouble. Based on true events, the story of growing up unfolds against the backdrop of the political turmoil of the time when Latvia was just beginning to take its first steps towards independence. Director Madara Dišlere delves into her memories, creating an idyllic, sweet and nostalgic picture of an ideal summer vacation — where even the upcoming commotions are perceived with childish enthusiasm and spontaneity. “Paradise ‘89” is an attempt to capture the moment of growing up in a time of chaos, in which children are still children, despite the ever-growing tension in the adult world.
Original language: Latvian, Russian, Lithuanian Subtitles: Russian, Latvian (by default) | English