Legendary Latvian Director Jānis Streičs Remembered with Public Screenings and Memorial
The Latvian film community is mourning the loss of director and screenwriter Jānis Streičs, who passed away on March 5th at the age of 89. A public memorial will be held on March 22nd at 12:00 PM at the Latvian Society House in Riga, according to announcements from theater critic Henrieta Verhoustinska on X.
In addition to the memorial service, Streičs’ films will be screened throughout the day in Vērmanes Garden. The National Film Centre of Latvia (NKC) is also honoring the director by making 11 of his films available for free streaming on the “Filmas.lv” portal for two weeks, starting March 7th. This retrospective offers a chance for both longtime fans and new audiences to experience the breadth of his work, which has resonated with generations of viewers.
Streičs’ filmography includes classics such as “Limuzīns Jāņu nakts krāsā” (1981) and “Mans draugs-nenopietns cilvēks” (1975), as well as later works like “Cilvēka bērns” (1991) and “Likteņdzirnas” (1997). The collection also features the two-part films “Teātris” (1978) and “Nepabeigtās vakariņas” (1979), and “Svešās kaislības” (1983), and “Aizaugušā grāvī viegli krist” (1986). “Rudens rozes” (2004), a modern adaptation of a play by Elīna Zālīte, is also included.
Streičs’ career spanned decades, and he directed over 20 feature films, often writing the screenplays himself. He received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Latvian Order of the Three Stars, the title of Honorary Member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, and served as Chairman of the Latvian Filmmakers’ Union and the Latvian Society of Riga. He was also honored as an honorary citizen of Preiļi, Rēzekne, and Veisieji in Lithuania, where he lived in recent years, continuing to paint and foster collaboration between Latvian and Lithuanian artists.
The director’s work earned him three “Lielais Kristaps” awards for Best Film of the Year, as well as a lifetime achievement award. He also received the Vatican prize “Beato Angelico” for “Cilvēka bērns,” making him the first Latvian filmmaker to receive the honor. Fans can also leave condolences and memories at the Latvian Society House starting March 12th.
