Andrejs Rudzinskis Remembers Director Jānis Streičs – ‘Human Child’ Star Shares Grief

Andrejs Rudzinskis, a young actor from Rezekne, was the first to arrive for auditions for the film The Child of Man in 1990. From over 700 candidates, it was Andrejs who caught the attention of the jury and director Janis Streichs for the role of Bonuks.

During filming, Streichs became not only his director, but also a teacher and, in a way, a father figure to him. The Latvian film, released during a period of significant cultural change, remains a beloved classic for many.

“During the film, he partially became like a father to me – he taught me various life lessons,” Andrejs Rudzinskis said in an interview with TV3. He added that working on the film wasn’t uncomplicated for a child – at seven years old, he had to work with the same dedication as adult actors. “He taught me this dedication and taught me how to be Bonuks – not just as a character, but as a person on screen,” he emphasized.

Their connection didn’t fade even later in life. Although meetings weren’t frequent, they regularly called each other and wished each other well on holidays. The director also met Rudzinskis’s children – son Janis and daughter Laura. Last year, Janis had a daughter, whom Streichs didn’t have the chance to meet.