International distributors continue to fall for “Ulya.”
The Latvian Oscar submission for Best International Feature Film has closed North America (New Mountain Films), France (Destiny), Italy (Invisible Carpet), Slovakia (ASFK), former Yugoslavia (Five Star Distribution), Estonia (Hea Film), Lithuania (GPI), MENA (Teleview), Finland (Cinema Orion), Poland (1989) and Brazil (Belas Arte).
The black-and-white film, directed by Viesturs Kairišs, will open the 30th edition of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. It premiered at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section. Produced by Ego Media (LV), Allfilm (EE), Staroń Film (PL) and Tremora (LT), it’s sold by B-Rated International.
Inspired by the life of legendary basketball player Ulyana Semjonova, born in 1952, “Ulya” is not a typical biopic.
“I don’t think I could ever make a nice, typical biopic. My interest lies in arthouse films. I wasn’t really thinking about sports either. I wanted to tell a Werner Herzog-esque story about a giant girl living in the countryside,” Kairišs told Variety.
“When I became the artistic director of the Dailes Theatre, I was looking for actors and he was outstanding. During our first meeting, when I asked him to join our ensemble, he said: ‘You know, I would like to play Ulyana Semjonova.’ Then I forgot all about it,” recalled Kairišs.
“In theatre, it’s not unusual for men to play women. It goes back to Shakespearean times. A few years later, he played in my film ‘January’. At one point, while I was resting, I heard Kārlis talking to our DP, explaining this idea to him again. That’s when I realized: It’s a film!”
“I actually saw Kārlis yesterday. He’s been filming [the Viking series] ‘Bloodaxe,’ so he has a long beard and he’s really big right now. But he always felt close to her somehow. He knew how it felt to be treated as a ‘giant’.”
Or simply as an outsider. To Kairišs’ surprise, “Ulya” has managed to connect with all kinds of viewers, regardless of their size. “Everyone is struggling with something they want to hide, but it’s probably the best part of who they are,” he said.
Viesturs Kairišs and actor Kārlis Arnolds Avots
Courtesy of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
