The love story of sixteen-year-old Artus is interrupted by the First World War. After losing his mother and his home, he found some solace in joining the army, as this was the first time the Russian Empire allowed state battalions. But war is not what Artur imagined – no glory, no fairness. It’s brutal and painful. Artus is now completely alone as the war claimed the lives of his father and brother. Furthermore, there has been no progress towards a speedy resolution of the war and timely return home. With the idea that he is the only one who cares about returning home, and that his homeland is just a playground for other nations, Artus finds the strength to fight one last time and finally returns home, starting all over again, just like his new nation. .
Credits: TheMovieDb.
Film actors:
- Artus Varnagus: Otto Brantovich
- Colonel’s Island: Willis Dawkins
- …: Ivar Krast
- Conrad: Gatiss Gaga
- Eagle: Martin Wilson
- Mother: Rēzija Kalniņa
- Edgar Varnagus: Raymond Selmes
- Mixon: Jakub Rennis
- Mirza: Ieva Florence-Vīksne
- Pillow: Renārs Zeltiņš
- Masha: Greta Rabbit
Photography team:
- Production Design: Juris Žukovskis
- Stunt Coordinator: Artem Grigoryev
- Third Assistant Director: Kristaps Krumish
- Screenwriter: Boris Frumin
- Director: Amber Dreiberg
- Producer: Inga Planewska
- Conductor: Lolita Ratemanis
- Author: Alexander Green
- Script Consultant: Valdis Celmiņš
- Assistant makeup artist: Santa Sandule
- Casting: Gunita Grossa
- Continuity: Anna Jurevica
- Assistant makeup artist: Ieva Sebre
- Makeup artist: Dzintra Bijubene
- Music Producer: Mark Mattson
- Assistant makeup artist: Alina Blinkova
- Continuity: Rinald Zelts
- Script Consultant: Miguel Mahalski
- Editor: Gatis Belogrudovs
- Costume Design: Sandra Silla
- Animal Coordinator: Daina Luksa
- Grip: Victor Besalaba
- Script Editor: Linked Lukstraupe
- Second Assistant Director: Gatiss Ugos
- Digital Imaging Technician: Maris Zommers
- Grip: Avis Mennik
- Special Effects Technician: Andrejs Deicmanis
- Production Manager: Gatiss Keller
- Key grip: Andris Pudans
- Grips: Viesturs Strelcs
- Casting Assistant: Beatrise Zake
- Special Effects Technician: Aigars Rošan
- Storyboard Artist: Margarita Tulawska
- Casting Assistant: Guntis Wilander
- Special Effects Technician: Druvis Vectirāns
- Military Advisor: Zidonis Lochmelis
- Script Consultant: Karen Lee Street
- Art direction: Jānis Kalniņš
- Assistant Costume Designer: Aija Strazdina
- Script Editor: Martin Slisans
- Digital Imaging Technician: Jānis Jozauskis
- Special Effects Technician: Mikus Bevalds
- Casting Assistant: Marta Zenet
- Assistant Costume Designer: Gita Peta
- First Assistant Director: Gundars Jacobsen
- Steadicam operator: Artūrs Lūriņš
- Special Effects Technician: Pēteris Kalniņš
- Weapons Master: Vladislav Dombrovskis
- First Assistant Photographer: Jānis Indriks
- Second Assistant Photographer: Mick Raman
- Sound re-recording mixer: Robert Slezák
- Photographer: Jānis Jurkovskis
- First Assistant Photographer: Rolands Zelders
- Digital Compositor: Mihail Matvejenko
- Props: Sandris Jadezems
- Boom Operator: Edgars Doma
- Sound Mixer: Martiņš Rosenthal
- Sound Assistant: Lukáš Ujčík
- Boom Operator: Pēteris Paas
- Boom Operator: Nauris Booda
- Visual Effects Supervisor: Māris Āboliņš
- Foley artist: Andrea Veselková
- Sound Engineer: Verners Biters
- Lighting Engineer: Juris Zemītis
- Second Assistant Photographer: Ivars Trautmanis
- Makeup and hair: Aija Beata Ryabovska
- Digital compositor: Aigars Gercans
- Client: Darth Rozrappa
- Transportation Coordinator: Janis Pavlovskis
- Costume Design: Katriona Luize Rozlapa
- Costume Design: Petra Gruskova
- Costume: Gita Kalvani
- Costume Designer: Marta Glass
- Costume Design: Gustav Berzins
- Costume Designer: Irena Vocale
- Digital compositor: Renars Belousovs
- Costume designer: Artus Zepps
- Foley artist: Zdeněk Dušek
- Sound Designer: Aleksandrs Vaijahovskis
- Digital Compositor: Andris Pakalns
- Foley Recording Engineer: Petr Kapeller
- 3D Artist: Dmitrijs Maslakpvs
- Stunt coordinator: Roman Morozov
- Venue Manager: Laura Cīrule
- Third Assistant Director: Uys Ott
- Lighting Coordinator: Daira Gruntmane
- Electrician: Reinis Jansons
- Location Manager: Ieva Ansevica
- Venue Manager: Katrina Tomasika
- Third Assistant Director: Madara Dishler
- Online Editor: Chris Rozins
- Motion graphics artist: Bibek Srestha
Movie review:
- MovieGuys: Based on the book of the same name, Blizzard of Souls, provides an in-depth look at Latvia’s tragic wartime past.
- Blizzard of Souls is set against the backdrop of World War I and offers an unglamorous insight into the horrors of war. The obsessive militarism and nationalism of the period failed to temper the realities of war. In other words, the loss of innocent life.
- The personal emotional numbing caused by the war is intensified again and again with each successive personal loss experienced by the protagonist Artus. By the end of the film, the war has consumed Artur’s life and become all he has, in a sad irony, the life of the young recruit he brings into combat.
- War is hell, war is inhuman, war is the death of the self. What’s more, no matter which political ideology you fight for, the outcome is the same.
- In terms of treatment, the film places great emphasis on lavish settings and cinematic style. Here you will truly immerse yourself in Artur’s world. From family scenes to battle scenes, this is a visually impressive piece of work. The carefully crafted sequences have a dreamlike quality. In that respect, it’s an amazing movie.
- Character development isn’t that compelling. You never really get to see the tiny emotional parts of each character. This treatment often makes the film feel emotionless. This atmosphere is somewhat contradictory to its inherent humanistic background. Perhaps this was done on purpose to further express the impersonal nature of the war? How does it deprive people of meaningful personal connections and development? If so, it’s a bit over the top and more character development would really have benefited the emotional impact of this film.
- All in all, it’s visually striking and immersive, but doesn’t quite live up to the humanistic ambitions it sets for itself. The tragic and emotional impact of a film like All Quiet on the Western Front has yet to be fully realized. Still, this beautifully rendered film is another damning statement about the brutality and horror of war.
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