Patrīcija

Latvia (2024)

Documentary | Latvian with English subtitles |  74 min

Directed by: Dāvids Ernštreits and Inese Kļava

Virtual: March 3-17

A young woman's difficult journey to compete for her place among the world's best skiers.

"Patrīcija" is the story of the journey to success of a young sportswoman who, with the support of her family and great determination, has already become the best Latvian skier of all time and is gradually moving towards her goal - to be among the best cross-country skiers in the world.

The film documents the grueling training, tough competition, sweat, tears, life changing loss and responsibility to her loving family. The film is about strong family ties and  a woman who wants to reach the top and is willing to pay the ultimate price by dedicating her youth to the sports.

The film is a long-term documentary project, initially conceived by director and journalist Dāvids Ernštreits, who reflects:

“Eighteen years ago, in December 2005, I met the Eiduks family when one of the sons was preparing for his Olympic debut. We filmed his training and later the Olympics, but Valts ultimately chose to focus on his studies rather than sports. At that time, he was surrounded by his younger brothers and his only sister, Patrīcija. Our next meeting was in February 2018 at the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang. By then, the talented Patrīcija was already on the starting line. At just 18, she achieved the highest Olympic ranking in Latvian skiing history. However, conversations in Korea revealed her uncertainty about continuing to compete professionally—she faced a decision like her brother Valts twelve years earlier. At that time, Patrīcija was still in Grade 12 and had three options: professional skiing, medical studies, or a scholarship to study in the USA, where she would represent her college in ski races. With her father, Ingus, she chose to pursue skiing at the highest level. Originally, the film aimed to document her final year of high school, but circumstances evolved. Over nearly six years, both life and our film transformed.”

Inese Kļava, one of the film’s directors and editor, adds:

"During the making of the film, I felt true admiration for Patrīcija’s willpower, work ethic, and the strength of the Eiduks family. I can say unequivocally that this is a family film. While it features Latvia's best skier, it would be a mistake to think it’s only about sport. The film is about family support, love, care for one another, perseverance, and the resilience to carry on through life's toughest moments."

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