Over the years people have gotten way too serious about how historically accurate a film is. There are podcasts dedicated to “setting the record straight” about movies that somehow have strayed from the biographies declared “truth.” Even movies that are based on historical novels get this fine-tooth treatment that is normally reserved for Superhero films. Just think of all the people whining about how Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey isn’t historically true. None seem to grasp that Homer’s epic poem is fictional. The fact that the former-Trillionaire wanted his millions of sycophants to believe his version of the events is sad. Sure the guy went to an Ivy League school, but as we’ve learned over the years Penn is a rich kids diploma mill like the fake colleges that advertised in the back of Rolling Stone magazine. What does he know about Greek literature since he got a degree in Economics? No movie is going to be historically accurate. Unless the filmmaker is declaring the movie “the true story” you don’t have to worry about historical figures being accurate. What matters is if they serve the plot of the film. The Year Before The War is a from Latvian director Dāvis Sīmanis about the people and events before the start of World War I. On the back of the DVD box, Simanis lets us know that this is “a phantasmagorical tour of this surreal pre-war world.” You can enjoy the beautiful story that evolves on the screen.
People standing on a frozen pond are cutting out ice blocks which leads to a frozen fish that gets addressed by a local man. He sees that the fish is between life and death. The man decides to jump in the water to be like the fish. This is not going to be a normal movie. Hans (The Mystery and Meaning of Life‘s Petr Buchta) is hotel employee in Riga, Latvia. In 1913, he embarks on a journey around Europe where wild things begin to happen around him. One night he finds himself drinking with Lenin. Later that night Hans gets a bit too close to an explosion which has him on the run. He’s suspected of being a crazed anarchist or a communist. While in the woods, he crosses paths with a group of women dancing including Alma (Paradise 89‘s Inga Silina) who captures his eye. He goes to Freud’s Swiss sanitarium to get a bit of balance in his life. Although there’s a lot of naturalists on the grounds. Turns out she is at Freud’s place too. There’s a touch of spiritualism with a seance. Turns out Alma has a bit of a gift with the undead. This allows Hans encounters the ghost of a military man who is all about some killing. Can killing be man’s natural state? The film has Hans going deep into the impending madness as the year ticks away.
The Year Before The War properly uses the historical characters in this fictional context. They don’t feel like cheap short cuts or some sort of Easter Eggs for the viewers. These famous faces add to Hans’ journey and desire to understand the massive event on the horizon. You’re not pointing at the screen going “That couldn’t have happened.” Instead you’re absorbing what they’re adding to the narrative. The movie contains odd moments, but they don’t feel unnatural for the characters. The Year Before The War is a wonderous, bizarre and sometime bloody journey during a time when Europe is about to erupt. And things do relate back to the frozen fish.
It should be mentioned that The Year Before The War was also released in a black and white version. The miracle of digital technology lets you alter the image this way instead of dealing with the film stock. The DVD only has the color version. The film’s palette is a bit muted so it seems a bit like a black and white film within a color world.
The Video is 2.35:1 anamorphic. The transfer lets you see things getting out of control. This is the color version of the film. The Audio is Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 in German, Latvian, French and Russian depending on the speaker. The movie is subtitled in English.
Trailer (1:44) shows this was a strange time.
IndiePix Unlimited presents The Year Before The War. Directed by Dāvis Sīmanis. Screenplay by Tabita Rudzate, Dāvis Sīmanis & Uldis Tirons. Starring Petr Buchta, Rudolfs Apse, Lauris Dzelzitis, Gints Gravelis, Eduards Johansons, Edgars Kaufelds, Ģirts Ķesteris, Daniel Sidon & Inga Silina. Running Time: 96 minutes. Rating: Unrated. Release Date: July 14, 2026.
