Obliging Collaborators

Speakers): Peteris Krilovs

Film Screening of Obliging Collaborators with introduction by Director Peteris Krilovs

Obliging Collaborators:

Human Cost of Soviet Spy Games in Postwar Latvia

The code to unlocking this feature documentary is 1949, the year the director was born, and also the year of the return of Soviet repressions to Latvia.  The film tells a very personal story against the background of less visited historic events - the death of the director's father due to the KGB repressions, which is closely linked to the devious game Soviet Latvia's KGB played agains Swedish-British-American spy agencies.

In the 1960s, with the aid of the KGB, a book was published in Latvia that later was made into a feature filme When Wind and Rain Hit the Window Pane.  It also served as a basis for a pseudo-documentary TV show about how the KGB fools Western spies. 

This film features the stories of people who, for various reasons, became players in this game.  Several years were spent gathering unique documents, testemonies, and materials detailing KGB accusations, and interviewing witnesses and experts to unmask one concrete episode of reprehensible Soviet deeds.

In order for the audience to sense the atmosphere of the KGB interrogations, the authors have recreated harsh testimonies and protocol sheets in clay animation.  The compelling personal History, the protagonists, the editing of archival materials, distinct and at times ironic, as well as the powerful visuals will help the viewer navigate these little known historical events. 

This film screening is part of the conference "War, Revolution, and Freedom: The Baltic Countries in the 20th Century" taking part October 8-10.  For more information on the conference, please click here.