directed by Dāvis Sīmanis, psychological drama, 100 min, eng subtitles
written by Dāvis Sīmanis, Tabita Sīmane
with Ulrich Matthes, Agnese Cīrule, Dmitrijs Jaldovs, Leonīds Lencs, Toms Liepājnieks, Pēteris Liepiņš
In the final years of World War I, an exhausted German army surgeon Ulrich is sent to oversee a sanatorium for soldiers suffering from post-traumatic mental disorders. The strange, dreamlike world that he encounters challenges his cold rational mind. His efforts to remodel this remote place and bring some order are fruitless. However, an unexpected attachment to a mysterious savage boy from the surrounding woods leads Ulrich to discover his true self. The slow, contemplative pace and picturesque cinematography of the film contrast with the insanity and misery of the war. Even in the absence of battle scenes, the war's presence is palpable. In such conditions, retaining humanity and empathy is not easy.