Screening of a Latvian documentary "Everything Will Be Alright"

You are kindly invited to IRES for a screening of the Latvian documentary film Everything Will Be Alright (Viss Būs Labi!) by Stanislavs Tokalovs.

The film was produced in 2023 in the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and its tremendous impact on the wider region, including intensification of the inter-ethic relations in the Baltic states.

The documentary follows the director’s Russian-speaking family life in one of the residential districts of Riga amid the growing securitization of Russian culture and identity. The foundation of the film consists of the life stories of three women. The grandmother is a World War II veteran who arrived in Latvia in 1955 in search of a better life. The mother works as a lecturer at the Transport and Telecommunication Institute, while the 18-year-old daughter is a young artist. By tracing the destinies of women from three different generations, the film seeks to reflect on lives of the half-million-strong Baltic Russian community in a contemporary context. The film explores whether this family has managed to find its place in Latvian society during the 30 years of independence.

In this autobiographical documentary, the director reflects on broader socio-political issues such as Latvia’s ethnic divisions and a sense of belonging within the Russian-speaking community, while foregrounding human stories amid political and institutional depersonalization and homogenization.

The jury of the Latvian National Film Awards Lielais Kristaps recognized Everything Will Be Fine as the Best Feature-Length Documentary Film of the Year (2023).

The screening will be followed up by a discussion among the attendees.

Please book your place in advance by contacting Dr. Lena Hercberga at: lena.hercberga@ires.uu.se