This might just be Latvia’s Disney moment—a small Baltic nation of about 1.8 million people potentially finding its own iconic character. Not a mouse, but perhaps a black cat. Whether this becomes reality, only time will tell.
I’ll admit, I’m not the biggest fan of Latvian cinema—not by a long shot. But when an animated film wins a Golden Globe on a modest $3.8 million budget and racks up 51 awards (and counting), it’s hard not to take notice. Initially, I thought about streaming it legally online. When that search came up empty, I decided to check if there were screenings in Brussels. To my delight, there were—at a boutique cinema I’d never visited before. Tickets were just €9. A boutique cinema, affordable tickets, and Latvia’s first-ever Golden Globe-winning movie (in collaboration with France and Belgium) promised a perfect movie night.
Our screening was at 16:45. I got carried away watching interviews with the creators on YouTube and nearly made us miss the bus downtown. Laptop closed, fragrance on, candle extinguished, shoes on, door locked—we rushed out just in time.
With mere minutes before the bus arrived, we hurried but managed to make it with a few moments to spare. The metro was similarly efficient; we arrived at Gare Centrale station with time left to catch our breath.
Outside Cinema Galeries, I paused to snap a photo of the venue and the movie poster. I didn’t expect a full house—this was a pre-premiere screening, after all. Maybe a handful of Latvians living in Brussels, a few Belgian families, but nothing more. I was wrong. The screening was likely sold out. I worried that the many children present would be noisy, but I was wrong about that too.
The screening started right on time.
As for the movie itself: as of this writing, the Oscar nominations haven’t been announced. Could this be the first Latvian film to earn an Oscar nod? Maybe. Could it even win? Hopefully. Even if it doesn’t achieve either, the creators have undoubtedly made a name for themselves. Let’s just hope they’re not a one-hit wonder.
I won’t spoil the plot, but I will say this: I liked the movie. As a fan of animation in general—and someone who’s probably seen every animated film that’s ever won an Oscar—I was curious to see how this one measured up. At first, I wasn’t entirely sold on the visuals, but about 15 minutes in, it clicked. This is different. This is what a $3.8 million budget looks like. Is that a bad thing? Not at all. It’s unique, it stands out, and it’s memorable.
What surprised me the most, however, was the soundtrack. I loved it. In fact, I might have enjoyed the music more than anything else. Can you believe it was recorded in just one day? That’s impressive, to say the least.
And the cat? I loved the cat. I have a cat, so maybe I’m biased. But if you’re a fellow cat owner, you’re pretty much obligated to see this movie. Enough said.
Time. Flow. Cat.
Kindly,
Olaaf
