Ligzda (1995): Besetzung, Handlung & Streaming

Released in 1995, Ligzda is a drama film directed by Aivars Freimanis, running about 135 minutes.

What it’s about. A young couple of biologists and their two children move from Riga to a nature reserve where they're provided with an old country cottage. They start to repair the cottage and feel at home, but the former owner of the house suddenly returns from Canada. When he realises that the present inhabitants have kept the spirit of the place alive, he gives up his rights to the cottage. The film then concentrates on him coming to terms with his memories of his time as a guerilla, when he found his first love, his 'sister-in-arms', who betrayed him fifty years ago. The film also investigates the relationship between the young biologists and nature, and the process of reaching adulthood. The title of the film, The Nest, stands for the surroundings of living nature (the forest, the marshes, the coast) and more generally for the small fatherland that has to maintain its position among great powers such as Russia, Germany and America: countries that largely shape the fate of the characters.

Who’s in it. Ligzda stars Dace Bonāte, Valdis Lūriņš, Ingmārs Freimanis and Leonīds Locenieks, among others.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Ligzda page.

If you liked it. Fans of Ligzda tend to enjoy Die Verurteilten, Der Pate, Schindlers Liste and Der Pate - Teil II.