The Baltics Visiting: Jacob, Mimmi and the Talking Dogs, feature film (premiere in the presence of the director) (+7)
Kitka in g. Nikolinespi / Bize Un Neguļa / Pigtail And Mr. Sleeplessness
To win back her parents’ attention, a six-year-old girl nicknamed Pigtail and her imaginary friend Mr. Sleeplessness come up with a clever plan to send her Baby Brother and Grandma to the Moon.
Jakob, Mimi in govoreči psi / Jēkabs, Mimmi un runājošie suņi / Jacob, Mimmi and the Talking Dogs
In Latvian with Slovenian and English subtitles
Jacob lives in the city and dreams of becoming an architect like his busy dad. He spends a lot of time drawing buildings and daydreaming while his father is at work. One day dad needs to go away on business for longer than usual and Jacob has to spend a whole week with his bossy cousin Mimmi and her ex-pirate father Eagle in Riga’s historical suburb called Maskachka. As soon as Jacob arrives it turns out that the local park is about to be transformed into new skyscrapers by a greedy businessman. Jacob and Mimmi decide to stop the development. It turns out that they can only do it with the help of a pack of local dogs that… can talk!
Directed by: Edmunds Jansons
Based on a book by: Luize Pastore
Written by: Līga Gaisa, Edmunds Jansons
Art Director: Elīna Brasliņa
Music: Krzysztof A. Janczak
Editing: Edmunds Jansons, Michal Poddebniak
Lead animator: Mārtiņš Dūmiņš
Voices: Olekts Eduards, Džumā Nora, Keišs Andris, Znotiņš Kaspars, Gāga Gatis, Liniņa Māra, Zilberts Eduards
Producers: Sabine Andersone, Jakub Karwowski
Production: Atom Art, Letko
Distribution: New Europe Film Sales
There was a lot of discussion about [single parents] when we were writing the script. It comes from a book – there are also these two dads and no explanation about the whereabouts of the mothers. We decided to keep it, because we liked that idea. Ten years ago I started to think about family as an institution and then I saw some single fathers living with their kids. I was so surprised by it. I thought they were so strong and maybe that’s the reason why I wanted to keep it in the film. We don’t explain anything here either, but if someone asked us about it directly, we would say for example that Jacob’s mum is still with his father, but she is busy studying somewhere in the States at the moment. There are small bits of information here and there, allowing you build your own story. It makes it much lighter than simply having a scene when a character is visiting somebody’s grave.
Of course, it’s not like we are trying to convince anyone to have their children run around without supervision [laughter]. But as a kid, it would be nice to have a chance to get out of the apartment every once in a while and not just sit in front of the screen. Do something that hasn’t been scheduled weeks before and just talk to people. I think it’s very important. Which is why in the film, we wanted to create a universe where you could feel safe and warm. And a bit nostalgic perhaps.
- Edmunds Jansons
Awards (selection):
- Best Animated Film, International Film Festival for Children and Youth, Isfahan, 2019.
- Gryphon Award Nominee, Giffoni Film Festival 2019
- Michel Award Nominee, Hamburg Film Festival 2019