New Latvian animated film "Laimīgie" tells story of a girl's rainforest adventure
Director Edmunds Jansons has released a new full-length animated film "Laimīgie", following a nine-year-old girl's adventures in the rainforest. The story draws inspiration from the life of Latvian traveler Aleksandrs Laime and a book by Luīze Pastore.
Latvian cinema has a new addition: the full-length animated film "Laimīgie" ("The Happy Ones"), directed by Edmunds Jansons. The film follows Elizabete, a nine-year-old girl whose family lives in the rainforest. When school holidays begin, she must return home to her parents — but for her, this means time away from her friends, a situation familiar to parents whose children approach adolescence and begin to prefer spending time with peers over family.
Inspired by a real-life traveler
The film draws on the life story of Latvian traveler Aleksandrs Laime (1911–1994), who settled in Venezuela in the 1940s. The project was also inspired by author Luīze Pastore's book "Laimes bērni" ("Laime's Children"), which reimagines various episodes from the traveler's life.
An adventure led by children
Running 72 minutes, the film shows children who find themselves in a picturesque, fantasy-filled adventure, displaying a greater sense of responsibility than some adults might. The film combines an adventure narrative with a heartfelt story about family relationships and growing up.
