
A story about Emīlija Benjamiņa, the “queen of the press” in interwar Latvia, whose wealth and tragic fate have since become folklore. The film’s narrative covers the period from the beginnings of Emīlija’s magazine Atpūta (Recreation), to her arrest and slow demise in a train en route to Siberia. The most prominent clairvoyant of the time - Eugene Fink’s prophecy that Emīlija would die from starvation in a foreign land (which served to be true) weaves through the narrative as a red thread. With this strong woman at the centre of the story, the film shows Latvian society in all its richness and gives the audience the opportunity to meet many well-known historical figures.

S1 E7 • 10/21/2021
The documentary series uses unique, previously unpublished photographs from the family archives of Emilia and Anton Benjamins and Juris Benjamins. The grandchildren of Emilia Benjamiņa, Pēteris Benjamiņš, Ilze Stokvuda-Benjamiņa, Emilia's grandson Pēteris Aihers, great-granddaughter of Anton Benjamiņš Kristīne Čakste, daughter of writer and "Jaunāko Ziņu" employee Jūlijs Lācis, Lalita Muižniece, and granddaughter Māra Ķimele, and other descendants of the former newspaper editorial staff participate in the documentary episode with their stories.
Featured Cast

Guna Zariņa
Emīlija Benjamiņa

Juris Bartkevičs
Antons Benjamiņš

Raimonds Celms
Jānis Benjamiņš

Baiba Broka
Berta Āboliņa

Lauris Dzelzītis
Jānis Kārkliņš
Uldis Anže
Kārlis Skalbe

Dainis Gaidelis
Ernests Brusubārda

Gatis Maliks
Pēteris Blaus
Edgars Ozoliņš
Jūlijs Lācis

Jēkabs Reinis
Vilis Lācis
Enzo Leonardo Borneo
Juris Georgs Benjamiņš

Ligita Dēvica
Ede Simsone