In mid-October, the shooting of a new multi-part film The Assistant (Asistente) began. Its authors are new-generation directors Alise Zariņa and Liene Linde, and the series’ cinematographer is Ivo Skanstiņš. Bright roles in the series will be played by Baiba Broka, Ilze Ķuzule-Skrastiņa, Inga Tropa, Silvija Bitere, as well as Matīss Budovskis, Kaspars Gods, Imants Strads and other brilliant Latvian actors, with the talented new-generation actress Elizabete Skrastiņa in the lead role.
The main character of the story, Laila, or Lulu, is a young woman who works in the real estate business and is slowly trying to build her first career. However, as she increasingly learns about the negative aspects of the profession, she begins to long for an occupation that would be better suited to her idealistic nature. As a result of coincidence, Laila ends up in a non-governmental organization, which gives her the opportunity to work as an assistant in social work and really help people. However, it turns out to be much more complicated than she thought, and at the same time, the young woman breaks up with her boyfriend and is forced to move in with her mother, who is trying to start a new life herself, and her cynical grandmother, who mercilessly comments on the progress of both women. Trying to help people in need, Lulu begins to realize how difficult it is to change the world, and inevitably she changes herself.
Director Liene Linde, who is already known to audiences for the feature film Seven Awkward Sex Times (Septiņas neveiklas seksa reizes) (2016) and the documentary Presence (Klātbutne) (2020), but is also preparing the feature film Black Velvet (Melnais samts) (2024) for premiere, says about her new film:
"The series format is an opportunity to collaborate with many wonderful actors and to talk in an expanded form about topics that are currently important in Latvian society, which are rarely addressed in staged cinema. However, a very important element in the films that both Alise and I make is the dimension of lightness and comedy, which will also be present in The Assistant."
Director Alise Zariņa has so far shot the audience-favorite summer comedy Nearby (Blakus) (2019) and the innovative documentary short film II Lines (Divas strīpiņas) (2020), and Zariņa's second full-length feature film Flesh, Blood, Even a Heart (Nospiedumi) (2024) is also being made at the Mima Films studio. Both directors have already received several national film awards for their films, Lielais Kristaps, in various categories.
Ego Media studio producer Guntis Trekteris is confident that the series The Assistant will offer the viewer a modern, light comedy and a play on family relationships in both witty and emotionally serious tones.
The series is being created by Ego Media studio in collaboration with the technology and entertainment company Tet, and is supported by the National Film Centre (NFC) – financial support for the film production was awarded in the NFC competition from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) financial instrument attracted by the Ministry of Culture (ERAF / REACT-EU project “Growth of Latvian film industry companies, promoting their professional capacity” No. 13.1.4.0/22/I/001). The filming of the multi-part film with premises and materials is also supported by the company Būvniecības ABC. The series will reach viewers on the Tet TV+ entertainment platform in 2024.
Contact:
Producer Guntis Trekteris,
guntis@egomedia.lv,
29219373
(Translated with the help of DeepL Translate)
