Latvian Film 'Ulya' Becomes Second Most-Watched in Country History

Latvia’s film “Ulya” has become the second most-watched movie in the country's history. The achievement arrived just before the film was set to open the 30th edition of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. The black-and-white production is also the official Latvian entry for the Best International Feature Film Oscar.

International distributors have moved quickly to secure rights to the picture. The film has closed deals for North America through New Mountain Films, France through Destiny, and Italy through Invisible Carpet. Other territories secured include Slovakia, former Yugoslavia, Estonia, Lithuania, the Middle East and North Africa, Finland, Poland, and Brazil. B-Rated International handles the sales for the project.

Director Viesturs Kairišs described the film as a personal success that exceeded his expectations. He noted that previous works did not generate the same level of public response. Kairišs said his daughter told him the story felt universal. "It's about me, too," she reportedly told him. The director stated that the film touches on modern themes of identity and difference.

The story is inspired by the life of Ulyana Semjonova, a legendary basketball player born in 1952. Semjonova stood seven feet tall, a stature that made her a national icon but also a recluse. Kairišs aimed to capture her subjective experience rather than create a standard biography. He used what he called "crazy cameras" and out-of-focus shots to reflect her inner world. "I wanted to tell a Werner Herzog-esque story about a giant girl living in the countryside," Kairišs said.

The lead role was filled by Kārlis Arnolds Avots, a man who had long dreamed of portraying the athlete. Avots had been a colleague of Kairišs at the Dailes Theatre before the two worked together on the film "January." The director recalled that Avots mentioned the idea during a casual conversation while Kairišs was resting. "That's when I realized: It's a film!" Kairišs said. He noted that casting a male actor in the role of a female character is a practice that dates back to Shakespearean theatre.

The production team initially faced skepticism from collaborators who wanted a more conventional biopic. Kairišs insisted on his specific vision to tell the story from a unique perspective. The final film includes a photograph of Semjonova with Avots, indicating her approval of the project. Semjonova passed away in January 2026. "She trusted us," Kairišs said. "It must have been strange to have us come over and say: 'And a boy will be playing you.'"

Avots is currently filming the Viking series "Bloodaxe" and has grown a long beard, according to Kairišs. The director said Avots felt a connection to Semjonova's experience of being treated as an outsider. The film has connected with diverse audiences in Latvia, Cannes, Rome, and Los Angeles. Kairišs said the story resonates because many people struggle with aspects of themselves they wish to hide.

The film was produced by Ego Media, Allfilm, Staroń Film, and Tremora. It previously premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival. The distribution deals cover a wide range of European and Latin American markets. The film's commercial success in its home country has positioned it as a major cultural event before its wider international release.