"Everyone Needs Money": Kristiāns Riekstiņš's heist comedy debuts in Latvian cinemas
Director Kristiāns Riekstiņš's debut feature film "Everyone Needs Money," described as a heist comedy, hit Latvian cinema screens in early October and is now before audiences for judgment.
In early October, director Kristiāns Riekstiņš's first feature film, "Everyone Needs Money," reached screens in Latvian cinemas. The filmmakers themselves describe it as a heist comedy, a genre combination not commonly seen in Latvian cinema.
A dream gathering dust
Speaking on Latvian Radio's program "Kultūras rondo," Riekstiņš explained the feeling that inspired the film's story. He said he wanted to talk about what it feels like when a person's dream remains unfulfilled and seems to be gathering dust, while everyone else around them appears to be doing better and succeeding more easily.
This is a familiar experience many people can relate to, and the director chose to wrap it in the lighter form of comedy, combined with elements of a heist plot. The film marks Riekstiņš's first full-length work, making it a significant milestone in his career as a filmmaker.
Now in viewers' hands
Having reached cinemas, the film has now been placed before a wider audience for evaluation. This will reveal how strongly a story about unfulfilled goals and comparing oneself to others resonates with everyday viewers. The filmmakers' chosen format — using comedy to tell a serious story — is an attempt to make a personal, widely relatable feeling accessible to a broader audience.
