Emily. Queen of the Press
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.
Cast: Guna Zariņa, Juris Bartkevičs, Raimonds Celms
Miniseries
7 episodes
1. 'Atpūta'1924. Publisher Emily Benjamiņa announces an ideas competition for a new weekly magazine in the editorial office of "Jaunākās Ziņas". Not everyone, including her husband Anton Benjamiņš, is enthusiastic about the idea, but Emilia is determined to have her way, no matter what it takes.CC53minSep 23, 2021
2. HeirEmilia's sister, actress Annija Simsone, has come to Riga from Germany for a visit. Emilia is determined to persuade her sister to let her adopt her son Žoržs, who lives with his grandmother and rarely sees his mother. Emilia is in love with the boy and wants to make him the heir to her family name and her successful business.CC53minSep 23, 2021
3. CastleThe Benjamins have just moved into Fābu House, a grand townhouse on Krišjāņa Barona Street, which has been decorated to Emilia's taste without sparing any expense. She proudly shows it off to the editorial staff of "Jaunākās Ziņas". Meanwhile, the newspaper, without checking its facts, published an article denigrating the Latvian government and a Swedish company, causing a scandal of the highest level.CC44minSep 30, 2021
4. Courtntoxicated by her wealth and power, Emilia has lost a little ground. She thinks she can influence everything and everyone... The Benjamins are quietly preparing to celebrate Christmas when a new scandal rocks them: the son of Anton Benjamins, Jānis, called Junior, is accused of raping a young actress.CC50minOct 7, 2021
5. A CoupThe 1934 coup d'état of Ulmanis was accompanied by drastic press censorship imposed by the Minister of Public Affairs, Bērziņš. Unable to accept it, Anton quit his editorial job and turns to farming.CC50minOct 14, 2021
6. BetrayalNo synopsis available yet.CC58minOct 21, 2021
7. DestiniesThe 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.CC1 h 4 minOct 21, 2021
Viewers also watched
Emily. Queen of the Press
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.
Creators and cast
- Directors
- Kristīne Želve, Andis Mizišs, Dāvis Sīmanis Jr.
- Created by
- Gints Grūbe, Inese Boka-Grūbe
