The Polish director’s documentary study Putin’s playground / day will premiere in Latvia

Two Polish documentarists go on a fascinating investigation trip to discover the true scale of the Kremlin Hybrid War in Central and Eastern Europe. Is Vladimir Putin’s goal only in Ukraine – or is he really trying to revive the Soviet Empire?

While studying Russia’s secret operations and informative attacks, the film’s authors travel to Poland, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Moldova and Latvia, follow the footsteps of the GRU agents responsible for explosions for ammunition warehouses and murders with nerve paralyzing substances novichok. Documentarists encounter presidents, prime ministers, ministers and even captured Russian spy, revealing how deep and systemic threats are rooted in our region. In Latvia, documentaries meet with the president Vaira Vike-Freiberga and NATO StratCom Researcher Elina Lang Ionatamishvili, who explains Putin’s plan and action model. Next, documentarists go to Daugavpils where they meet with pro -Russian activists, Stability! The office and studying the Russian attitude towards the war in Ukraine. The film reveals an important story about security, sovereignty and the price of freedom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=536A3tyz9ky

Putin’s playground There is an investigative documentary in which the authors become members of the story, sharing their emotions, experiences and reactions. The film offers a hybrid form – documentary testimony, observation, interviews, archival materials that reveal how a hybrid war is implemented in modern Europe.

The film was made with the support of the National Film Center. Music for the film was composed by Rihards Zaļupe, producers of the Latvian side – studio Red dot media.

The premiere session on May 5, 7 pm, and director Konrad Sholaiskis will come to Riga. After the session – a conversation with the director and answers to the questions.

Konrad Sholaisky (Konrad szołajski) is an experienced Polish director and screenwriter whose work is balancing between documentary and feature film genre, often combining a sharp social view of irony and humor. His films often reveal contradictory issues about Polish society, national identity and religion. Cholaiskis is a lecturer in several Polish film schools, was a member of the Polish TV Program Council (1999-2003). In 2005 he created an independent film company ZK Studiospecializing in films with strong social orientation and international view.

Among the most important works of the director are movies The Good Change (2018), Make Poland Great Again (2018), The Battle with Satan (2015), FUNERAL PEOPLE (2004). In the film Putin’s playground For the first time, the director himself becomes an active member of the story, making the film both a political investigation and a personal travel war and misinformation.