Latvia’s forbidden songs | DW Documentary
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- čas přidán 16. 06. 2024
- Songs are integral to Latvian identity. They helped preserve Latvian heritage during Soviet times. Every five years, there is a big choir festival.
There's no chance Armands Priedols and Alina Igosheva will miss the festival this time. Armands is a lifelong dancer and farmer and Alina Igosheva is a passionate singer and teacher. But with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the mood in Latvia is tense. The Latvians have only been independent since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Now they once again fear their big neighbor to the east. What does Armands think of the situation - or Alina, who once lived in Russia before immigrating to Latvia years ago? Juri Rescheto went on the road with them both.
#documentary #dwdocumentary #reporter
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Latvia was the island of culture in the whole Baltic Belt of the former USSR. That's why Moscow was especially diligent in destroying their culture and Latvia was the most Russified one of the three republics. Singing was the single most powerful form of protest left to them. As a child I was taken by my parents from my native Ukraine to the festivals and the singing fields in the most beautiful parts of Latvia and Estonia. My parents wanted to show me what civilized peoples can protest with dignity. I was little and didn't know much at the time, but I remember all that 60 years after. There was also the "fast train" Moscow-Riga, and it was like you entered a movie set about different life on a different planet. Thank you, Latvian People!
No, Latvia was an island of culture because they were lucky to avoid mass repressions unlike some of other republics.
Tens of thousands of people were sent to Siberia, what are you talking about? Any rich or intelligent/educated people were sent out. @@elis8669
You have to seek very hard for a single family in Latvia which wasn't repressed by the communists. It was sure my grandfathers family on the list, the same with families of my friends. Everybody has a killed or missing relative or groups of them. And it wasn't just Stalins repressions, it used to happened till the end of the soviet empire at 91. @@elis8669
@@elis8669 If I'm correct, then it was around 13% population lost during the war and following repression.
@@elis8669 They didn´t have it as bad as Ukraine, but catastrophes and repressions certainly didn´t avoid them. Mass deportations to Siberia, torturing etc. I met a Latvian poet who had been in a gulag.
Why was it necessary to include Russia when it should be about Latvian culture. During the occupation it was all about them, not us. It's tiring that this "part of the USSR" narrative is ongoing. Latvia is an independent country. I mean, it's educating but c'mon, it's really, really tiring. And at last, I've some Russian/Russian speaking friends who are very nice people, but we cannot forget that there are Russians who fully support the war in Ukraine, call us Nazis, beat up people (even in the West) for supporting Ukraine etc. Like, they're the ones supporting the regime.
Because whether we like it or not 50 year occupation has influenced our Latvian society politically, physically, culturally, financially etc. We can't ask others to take action if we can't ourselves and taking further decommunization has finally happened. We shouldn't forget and we won't, but lets also look at ourselves. You could comment only about Latvian culture and the festival yet chose to go on Soviet and Russia triage, not saying unwarranted. We can agree, the festival celebrates our identity and freedom and it's beautiful.
Russians & serbians appear to be troublemakers in this instance. No doubt influenced by their greek orthodox religion.
I am From Rajshahi,Bangladesh.
I wanna go to your country. But how can i go?
Please help me.
@@FVBmovies❤❤
I’m Hungarian and loved with your nice country, Latvija. My grandparents, parents and all relatives always had a great respect of Latvian culture, this valuable part of western civilisation. We visited Riga, Jurmala, Sigulda several times…Congratulation, and paldies! Gábor from Budapest
Szeretlek te draugs. 😊
I feel disgusted that you are saying that 2 cultures have to merge here, Latvia is for Latvians - the Russian % here increased due to forced deportations and mass Russian immigration for working purposes. Don't you dare to say that this was not caused by Germans and Russians!
Well, what did you expect? If you bring so many new people here and they stay here for over 50 years obviously they will start a family and their new family will start a family. We are talking about 3 generations here. Those grandkids have nothing to do with Russia anymore, most of them have never been to Russia in the first place. But obviously the tention between latvians and russian speaking population is still there. So merging is still needed to live in solidarity and make Latvia shine! And merging as in being respectful to one another, not taking on russian traditions. Or do You suggest to deport all the russian speaking population away to have less than 1 million inhabitants paying taxes? And deport where? This is their motherland
@@ariastark1559 they have a lot with ru*zza
@@ariastark1559 You belong to those who brought you here.
@@lailux Nezinu, no kura šķūņa Jūs izlīdāt, bet mani neviens nekur neatveda
@@lailux Runa ir par intigrāciju, kuru, diemžēl, daži labi nesaprot. Abpusēji :)
I am Latvian, though not living in Latvia anymore, but this song and dance festival always gives me the patriotic and special feeling inside. 🇱🇻🇱🇻🇱🇻
Doesn't matter. We are living under the same sun.
~ from SEA with love ~
are you also a mail order bride?
All Latvians seem to leave, sadly.
@@EyeDriveATruck Why?
@@CharlieZelenoff-gf3vjfor mail order brides you have to look in russia.
This is such an amazing story in today's world and shows just how strong culture can really be in keeping a nation together.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!
Great, take the national treasure of all Latvians and make half the video about russians. Add a sprinkle of turning 34% russians in Riga into "a clear majority" and you have a "documentary video" in the best traditions of DW russian correspondents :D
"Majority are Russian speakers"... Majority also speaks English which totally doesn't mean they are Brits or Americans.
@@melluzi Yes, but you don´t get the point. It was weird having a Latvian-language tradition introduced in Russian. (I´m not Latvian btw, I´m Czech.) I mean, wouldn´t you think it a bit weird having a documentary on the history of Oktoberfest introduced by a Turkish guy speaking Turkish, or a documentary on the British Wars of Roses introduced by an Indian guy speaking Hindi? I mean... OK, I guess, but it´s out of place. The logical thing to do is to start with a Latvian person speaking Latvian.
@@martavdz4972 I fully agree but that's the reality in context of local demographics.
Sending loads of love to Latvia from Lithuania ❤️
Beautiful traditions of Latvia! Amazing country❤ With love from Poland ♥️
Poland is a beautiful country. We, the Latvians, really like Poland and the Polish people. We view you as our brothers and sisters.
DW subtle russohilia evident through out this presentation which deserved much better.
Starting with "part of the Soviet Union". A gloss over the forced annexation of the three Baltic countries of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania through bogus plebescites...the result of the Molotov-von Ribbontrop pact between USSR and Third Reich. Small wonder that the free Baltic republics identify with Ukraine's efforts to regain territory annexed by Putin's Russia in the same manner.
And by the way, the Allied powers never recognized the forced annexation not the United Nations, referring to them as the Captive Baltic Nations.
Then there is the obfuscation in mentioning the 34% Russian speaking population in a country that during the occupation underwent intensive Russification program, forced Russian language in all matters,. So no wonder that a portion of the population can speak Russian as opposed to the segment of ethnic Russian colonists that refused to learn Latvian amounting to perhaps a third less then DW mentions.
The Latvian Displaced Persons diaspora world wide renewed the Song Festivals chiefly in the United States. I participated as a young dancer.
For viewers to experience the full impact of Song Festival there are several HD CZcams videos. In passing, consider that 60,O00 participants from a population of slightly over only 2 million as proof of the commitment to retaining their cultural heritage....viewers might consider how large a similar percentage would mean in their country...rather amazing.
As a Pakistani I fully support love respect and support Latvia Lithuania and Estonia and its beautiful people from Pakistan 🙂. Best regards from Pakistan 🙂.
Very wise to be from far away but to know all 3 of our countries do this, despite the title of this documentary.
I watch DW all the time. I'm so happy to finally see my country represented in DW.
Thank you for watching!
This is very wholesome and refreshing at a time when all the cycle is filled with is bad news. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
@@DWDocumentary this documentary is german propaganda. Russians have nothing to do with the song and dance festival, but DW seems to invite 2 russian women from Moscow as if to say "okay, also russians participate in this and everyone is so united, both latvians and russians". In reality, completely wrong. The tradition is a latvian tradition which was created as a tool for protesting the occupiers rule over Latvia and spreading the message about what Russia has done to us through our songs. Of course there are not only songs about sorrow and hatred towards our oppresor. There are lots of joyful songs. But the point is, russia is exactly the opposite in this context about the tradition. This documentary is a lie.
@@shazam992ehh, i don't think so. Of course it has nothing to do with russians outside of Latvia, but I bet there are some that feel firmly connected to both cultures despite the tension. Same as there are latvians participating in russian traditions. If anything you can say they just simplified to make the video short and easy to watch. It's not "propoganda" it's just journalists choosing a plot that is easy to understand and show. Noone can explain all the nuonces under 15 minutes and make it watchable. That's why journalism exists, otherwise everyone just read books.
But I agree, russians participating in the festival is the exception, sadly. I mean the cultural chasm in general is a sad thing.
@@kristadzive the part of latvians and russians participating in each others traditons is a size of a molecule and those latvians probably either have russian parents or just aren't true latvians by heart. Go ahead and walk around Riga and tell me, do russians feel conected to latvian culture? you will get a overwhelming answer of ''no.'' And vice versa. This is propaganda. It does not correspond to reality.
They made the video short to downplay it's existance, to make it seem as if this is nothing special. But in reality germans envy the latvians because only latvians have this tradition. Germans once had it but not anymore. But this tradition is nothing similar to simple, that's why it can't be simplified.
This isn't journalism, this is propaganda. Journalism would be if DW was to dive deep into why this festival is made, they would talk about latvian history.
I was a part of this, the most beautiful thing I've ever seen and I doubt I would ever see
I started watching it being excited to learn something new about Latvia, but less than 2 minutes into the documentary and I hear russian language and listening about russian singer! Seriously?! Do russians have to be on the front page about every neighboring country they oppressed in the past??? Very unprofessional! Latvia and Latvian people deserve to have 100% of focus here! The world has to learn to talk about other nations without bringing russia into it!
Estonians and Latvians (and Lithuania if they also have this festival.. ) should do a joint song festival and break guiness record, bring million folk singers together :D
Yes Lithuanians have a song festival. The next o e is next year.
Allready did that all 3 countrys. Read history
It wouldn't be that popular as the languages don't match up. They have done joint festivals, but they are always smaller in scale.
@@mindertuxThat's interesting, I had no idea. I would think it's something that everyone should know, yet I hear of it for the first time.
@@eksiarvamusI wouldn't call Gaudeamus small though
"Part of the Soviet Union" - no, DW (WTF???), it wasn't part of the USSR, but a sovereign state illegally occupied by the USSR...
Maybe the reason for being part of the USSR was Soviet occupation, but but it doesn't change fact that there was Latvian SSR
@@Marie-ys6yw legally they were not part of Soviet Union. While there was Latvian SSR, there was parallel to that existing an independent Latvian government. Same for the other Baltic states. When Soviet Union ended, they regained their independence, bringing the government outside back to the country. That government was never part of Soviet Union.
@@minaolenella869 stop being a pedant lol
@@saccount-z3 they were Independent before Soviet Union.
@@saccount-z3 they were independent before Soviet union and after Russian empire.
Dievs svēti Latviju!
From Lithuania
Very emotive, and extremely beautiful on many levels ... ❤
Lithuanians and Latvians have extraordinary aesthetic sense, they´re great at weaving, painting, wood sculpting... and everything they make is beautiful and tasteful. I´m a Baltic Studies expert from Czechia and the beauty is one of the things that made me study the cultures 🙂
Wow that was so impressive! Greetings from Germany 🇩🇪 to all the Latvian people 🇱🇻
Would love to visit someday. Beautiful culture.
I would recommend ❤
Go anywhere north of Saulkrasti, you might have an entire empty beach to yourself 🙂
Why is this "documentary" not just an educational video about our culture, but once again- some kind of propoganda about russians? Why does it always have to be about russia, when you're seemingly making videos about Latvia? They've done enough to take our people and culture away- we deserve a video about Latvian culture solely.
Yeah, I´m not even Latvian and I agree. I mean, it´s like making a documentary on Croatia and starting with someone speaking Turkish. Unbelievable.
@@martavdz4972 I think DW is highlighting the fact that history could repeat in Latvia as russians are the problem.
I am Latvian, my family fled during the war. Wish there was more educational content about Latvia out there.
Hey. Which one of the wars?
Always welcome in Latvia!
And you could not return because the Russians had to be here. Most people could not even come to visit their families. Many never saw their loved ones any more.
I have to say... several tissues later, that RARELY have I been so moved. Great work DW!
Thank you for watching!
It really is an impressive cultural event. Worth the experience
❤respect and salute to the Latvians❤ freedom is alive.🎉
음악과 노래가 라트비아 정체성에 굉장히 중요한 역할을 하는 것은 멋지고 감동적입니다. 소련 시대에도 라트비아 유산을 보존하는 데에 도움이 되었습니다. 5년마다 열리는 대규모 합창 축제는 빠질 수 없는 행사입니다. 이번 축제를 놓치지 않을 알만즈 프리돌스와 알리나 이고셰바는 훌륭한 분들입니다. 라트비아는 소련 해체 이후 독립적인 나라로 지내온지 얼마 안된 시간입니다. 이제 러시아의 우크라이나 침공으로 인해 긴장감이 높아졌습니다. 그럼에도 불구하고, 이들은 음악과 문화를 사랑하는 마음으로 함께 합창 축제를 즐기는 모습은 감동적입니다. 힘든 상황에서도 라트비아의 강인한 정신을 믿고 응원합니다.
정말 고마워요.
I really appreciate it. Yes, Latvia is a singing Country. God bless Latvians 🇱🇻 🇬🇧 And we ar know how hard is time for the Ukraine 🇺🇦 And we stand with Ukraine together. Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦🇬🇧 🇱🇻 God Bless Latvia and Glory Ukraine 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇱🇻
It's so sweet and beautiful, it's a shame I didn't know about this. Will visit for the next one, for sure
2028😂👌
I must it's the most beautiful amphitheater i've seen!
False information that there is 60% Russian speaking population living in Riga. Its aprox. 40%!!
In Latvia 23% of russian speaking nationalities.
Wow. Very impressive. Would love to see this in person someway. Thank you 😊
Thanks for watching!
next one is in 5 years
@@drerri will be there.
@@clarkmadrosen1780 tickets for the final concert are hard to get by, i recommend going to the final rehearsal. Cheaper and actually doable. Me and my family have only be able to get tickets to the grand final once in 20 years (so 1 of 4 times)
@@clarkmadrosen178030 000 seat tickets are sold in 10 minutes so.good luck
So.. let's create a video about Latvia.. and the main character won't speak Latvian. Cool. Quality choices straight there,
Fantastic documentary, learned something new about Latvia culture. Thank you for sharing, good job DW.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!
@@DWDocumentary Curious to see what DW is bringing up next😉
Been reading up on some of the history and culture just out of curiosity, wonderful people and country. All things considered we're very lucky to have you!
Love from the UK
Russians living in Latvia must operate in Latvian full stop.
It is always the "Leadership", that is the problem. "...Absolute power, corrupts absolutely".
Live your life like as if the "Leadership" does not exist.
Dance, sing and enjoy. BRAVO.
Yup, just be a clueless hippie all your life. Smoke pot also.
How beautiful and lovely!
Lai Dzīvo Baltija!
Tegyvuoja Baltija!
Lai Dzīvo Draudziba!
Tegyvuoja Draugystė!
Telaimina Dievas Latvija!!! ❤️
Lai Latvija mūžīgi paliek neatkarīga un stipra! Lai Krievija turas malā!
Absolutely wonderful and beautiful.
watch the film "The Singing Revolution" which documents the freedom movement for the Baltics. The song festival seems very much like the Welsh Eisteddfod.
didnt know , that Latvians also have festival like this, like Estonians... cool :D
We have the same festival in Lithuania as well 😊
@@emfab5163 You did adopt it quite a lot later though.
Absolutely 💯 wonderful documentary and beautiful disclosures of brotherhood of neighbor nations ... Artist activities always strengthen humanity brotherhoods far from states' competition and theirs plots....it seems to me lovely Latvians 🇱🇻 having highly humanitarian enlightenment .. congratulations to them... thank you for your respectful 🙏 ( DW) documentary channel for sharing this remarkable documentary
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts :)
Awesome! Congratulations! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
Amazing ❤.
Interesting and beautiful, and the comments add a lot of informations that do not transpire in the documentary. My French engineer school had Erasmus exchange students programme with Riga, it was a very well appreciated destination for our students who were discovering a fascinating country !
Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment.
Latvian culture is culture of perseverance!
Absolutely. I mean, you waited 700 years for your own state and didn´t give up. You waited 100 years for your first medal in ice hockey and didn´t give up. I´m Czech, I lived in Saulkrasti for 3 years and one of the things I learned from Latvians was stamina! 🙂 It´s been helping me not to give up on Ukraine, too.
Ich wünschte eine solche Traditionspflege bzw. Wertschätzung hätten wir auch in Deutschland.
es fängt an mit dir! :)
If you have the energy, you could make a start. Germany has many traditional songs. And many local singing groups, or at least trere were many when I lived "up de Waterkant" 60 years ago. See whether there still are some, and whether they might be interested in putting on a concert with the other groups.
It can't hurt.
The tradition originates in Germany. The first Baltic festival in mid-19th century was actually local German (who called themselves die Balten). Estonians and Latvians followed suite in the 60-ies and 70-ies. It would be fantastic if Germany sang again.
octoberfest ir labs sākums. būšu tur. kad virs zemes būs miers.
Wonderful ‼️
Is this about war and Russia or is it about Latvian dance and song festival, very disappointing DW.
The crux of German "Ostpolitik" is to pander to russians ad nausea, cover their eyes on the genocide(s!) that the russians are committing and whitewash muscovite filth as much as possible. Because their economy relies on cheap russian natural resources, or at least used to.
very cool
I´m not Latvian but I´m with some Latvians here in the comments - it just feels off that the first person to be interviewed speaks Russian. Nothing against Alina, but if you do a documentary on an event in certain language, it´s logical to start in that language. And if you do a documentary on a cultural symbol of a fight against oppression, it´s a matter of respect not to start with the language of the oppressor.
Very nice 👍🇬🇧
This was a very interesting documentary. I enjoyed it. Is there a special reason why the festival is every 5 years? Is it because it takes a lot of planning, funds, and effort (like the Olympics)? Or is there a different reason?
Well, something like that. It is very emotional event and you need time to cool off :) As a latvian, I think it is right amount of time between the song festivals, so you can miss and prepare emotionally for the next one.
The first one was 1873 and since then it was held every 5 years. This year was a 150 year anniversary!
Every summer we have somer solce festival caalled Ligo .. the smaler version of it .. old pegan traditions
i love [music] .
DW did a horrible job at making this "documentary" because they mostly interviewed russian people. Russians don't have anything to do with latvian culture. The song festival is a big part of LATVIAN history. It was a tool for protests against the Soviet Union and has been and will always be a big part of us latvians. Russians are the ones that have caused Latvia to have a dark history, so for this to be an option - to interview russians about this - is just absurd
There was literally only one russian speaking woman there. Who said that she has Latvian roots, moved to Latvia, works in Riga full time, speaks fluent Latvian (you can hear at the end of the video), participates in the festival since 98 and many times though out the video expresses her love and gratitude towards the country. So stop being so blind and salty
@@ariastark1559 that is exactly my point. there was 1 russian speaking woman in this song festival and the germans still decided to interview her to make it seem as if russians and latvians are living in harmony, which is propoganda. russians don't even like their own russians. let's not even talk about what latvians have to put up with. she is russian. it doesn't matter what she says. she has a different mentality because her country hasn't been oppressed and cleansed of her people. russians never had to put up with that. those are just empty words which she says. she is wearing a pink dress and is talking about how the music affects her life. how can it affect her life if the music is against the authoritarian regime that her country created?
God bless Alina. She's a good person.
🇱🇻 🇬🇧 And we ar know how hard is time for the Ukraine 🇺🇦 And we stand with Ukraine together. Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦🇬🇧 🇱🇻 God Bless Latvia and Glory Ukraine 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇱🇻
live long latvia
You have to take part to really know the feeling.
You could never get Americans to do that.
Using some really old fly by footage, the statue of soviet oppression is still visible in the distance.
Looks beautiful
💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
60% russian speakers in Riga..? Not sure about that
❤❤❤
47% Russian speakers in Riga
Yeah like 95%
@@Marie-ys6yw 47% latvians, 34% russians and the rest is other nationalities that don't necessarily are russian speaking. But the video was done by a russian "journalist", so who cares about facts?
@@uniquehandle603 almost all other nationalities are Russian speakers. For example, in Latvia altogether there's 24% Russians but 37% Russian speakers. 8% of Latvia's population, deemed to be Latvians, actually speak Latgalian as first language. Nationality doesn't say one's first language, especially in Latvia. Moreover many people are from mixed families and their nationality is not so easily detectable. And nowadays many people wish to abdicate such a term "nationality" in our days of globalization.
Extremely Russian perspective at times.
As a Turkish, I have always felt sad about the peril that waits for the Baltic languages and culture. Latvian language should be preserved as it's under threat of being forgotten by the next generations. I appreciate those attempts having been made for the sake of these values, yet there still seems to be lots of things to do for this unprecedented culture and its language.
Sounds too pessimistic. It is not so perilous for latvian language. Yes, it is not any near the "big languages", but it has it`s own country, so it is not so bad.
@@andrisorlovskis4039 I was talking on precautions
Very poor documentary, because there was much more to represent. Alina, woman, who doesn't even speak Latvian...
Yes, that's exactly what I am saying. Most of these people who they interviewed, have nothing to do with either latvian culture and most importantly history.
She spoke at the end of the video. It is her choice in which language she wants to talk to a German reporter
@@ariastark1559 if she already feels influenced by Latvian music, why can't she speak Latvian? if she really felt influenced, she would show respect to the Latvians by talking in Latvian. But that's exactly why she doesn't speak Latvian :D because this Latvian culture doesn't affect her. oh what a sudden turn isn't it? the compatriots of the aggressors are not affected by the music, whose compatriots are a country oppressed by the Russians since the days of Tsarist Russia.
No, they did not sing for ''independence'', they sang for ''reindependence''.
I am watching from USA 🇺🇸 home of hotdogs and hamburgers
Well done 👏
Hamburgers and Hotdogs/ frankfurters originated in Germany.
Ironically, Chinese Fortune Cookies and English Muffins originated in the U.S.
yeah.. because food in german language (hamburger) is invented in america.... typical american arrogance
hamburger was literally invented in german city Hamburg
and hotdog was also invented in germany, in city Frankfurt
We appropriate items from other countries. But we don’t have a culture ourselves.
Sorry to say this but America doesn't have any originality , you don't have your own culture , you just borrowed bits from every other nation
7:46 Important point
2:50 it's about 50% not 60%
No there is not even a 50%...
Their Flower Crown made me remember MIDSOMMAR film ❤😮
It´s a tradition in most Northern European countries. Latvia is in some ways part of Northern Europe. And flower wreaths used to be common in Europe in general, I think.
"It's not just a dance it's a way a' living" - WC
Latvian are sure of themselves. This is a real indépendant country
DeutscheWelle more like Ruzzische Beobachter
love u latvia
Principā neko neparādīji ... 🇱🇻
Lativa and the other two baltic republics were freed from nazi occupation by the sacrifices of the russian people and got their independence from Moscow due to the generosity of the same people... The baltics should not forget this basic history while shaping their policies towards Russia and the russian people and their language and culture...
Many Irish support Russia against Nato expansion and against the woke ideology of the West who also tried to use Latvia and Baltics against Russia. Latvia has nothing to fear except the West ideologies and its new communism where everyone is reduced to being controlled. In Ireland we have a school teacher who is still imprisoned for years because he refused to call a boy a girl. That wouldn't happen in Russia or Latvia. 🇮🇪❤🇷🇺
As the former Latvian citizen (naturalized), and patriot of Latvia, but now living in Russia l would like to add:
even l was surprised hearing so much Russian language in video about sensitive topic for Latvians. And it is anticipated that Latvian nationalists are so triggered by hearing Russian speech. There are those who don't want to understand the context of the situation and simply deny not only the oppressor state's politics but also it's culture and language, fearing those as soft power, something opposite to their unity. Meantime those misconceptions led do the failed integrational policy in Latvia and now have their fruits, because Latvians use their will and right being solid in their own culture and not to diversify to another\Russian culture. Dw managed to bring to the light the troubled relations between two nations on the top that reveals here in the comments
Indeed, the policy failed and I must say, internal politics was at play too. Some political parties in Latvia on both sides used the issue to their advantage. As a Latvian without any Russian relatives whatsoever, I don't mind hearing Russian language on this DW video, because it warms my heart her mother took her to Sunday school, she learned about her roots and upholds traditions, and it's practically unavoidable due to the occupation which influenced many processes in Baltics themselves. Journalists did the right thing to include the information, because we can't pretend it hasn't left any marks and influence.
Funny story: I went to the sing and dance festival in Latvia this year for the first time with my family and we had packed like sandwiches, sweets and other things and we had to go through security wich is for everyone and they checked our bags just to make sure we weren't smuggling something in there and we brought bananas with us and the security said "Hey can you eat this out here please?" And the raeson why they said that is because there were a bunch of businesses that they wanted them to earn money wich why they didn't let us bring the frickin bananas! So we eat them and we get inside but the thing that they didn't saw was that we still had the sandwiches!😂 They didn't even bother to check the rest of the bag they just gave us the tickets and let us in there! And we started joking about it like:"The bananas sacrificed them selves for the sandwiches!" And we never got caught so we just ended up losing the bananas!😂 By the why the festival was beautiful would recommend visiting!❤ Edit:I'm a Latvian by the way!🇱🇻
Ms. Rowohlt, you and your team filled my heart full of happiness in seeing that another beautiful Slavic culture and its traditions has thrived despite all. I still remember a DW(?) documentary from several years ago featuring a similar festival of continuity in Moldavia. Thank you from the USA.
Latvia is not a Slavic nation in any way (nor language, nor culture). It is Baltic. Shame this documentary did not emphasise this.
@@meandafantasy, Thank you for correcting me. To any Latvian I offended, please excuse my ignorance and forgive me.
And Moldovans are not Slavs either. Their language and ethnicity are 100% related with Romania.
@@spinamalatesta6202, thank you for your kindness in informing me and in honoring Moldavia’s history.
Like the previous comment said, Latvia and Lithuania are Baltic nations. Ancient European languages, similar to Latin in some ways. People more reserved, less impulsive, more patient, with more emphasis on subtle aesthetic taste than most Slavic-speaking nations. They have great lyrical poetry and wood sculptures. I´m Czech (a Slavic language speaker) and the Baltic cultures feel very different in many ways. Much more Northern Europe.
For a native Latvian this was disgusting to see - a woman wearing a Latvian traditional dress and mumbling in russian 🤬
This is exactly what's hurting us that they don't respect our country or culture enough to learn our language even though they live here. Our song festival is the essence of our LATVIAN culture! Russians who can't learn to respect our language should stay out of it!
Thousands of people singing in this festival and you really needed to interview the only russian present!?!? Can you explain why?
To be fair, she spoke Russian only to the interviewer. Her conversation with Armands was in Latvian.
Seems it's DW policy to interview people only in Russian in ex-USSR countries. Made a documentary in Moldova and spoke to people only in Russian, could not be bothered with a Romanian translator! The bias was there in plain sight.
@@JohnHenryEden2277that's not the point. The point is you shouldn't even be interviewing russians about latvian culture because they have nothing to do with Latvian culture. One russian woman says she's almost effected by the culture while she can't even speak latvian and is wearing a pink outfit to the interview
I might be wrong but I thought she said she was ethnically Latvian language is different from nationality
@@carolinehaskins5242 You just don't understand.
Tas ir vismaz bezgaumīgi: atzīt par labu krievu valodu latviešu dziesmu svētkos. Tā ir okupācijas un kolōnizācijas attaisnošana.
Thanks a lot for taking the time to comment. We kindly ask our viewers to comment on our channel in English
so that we can answer questions and encourage dialogue.
Thank you and all the best,
The DW Documentary Team
um, no. russians and latvians are not "one people" at dziesmu svetki. while it can be appreciated by anyone, dziesmu svetki is latvian, not russian. in fact the russians forbade it from happening under the soviet occuption. it is extremely offensive that you would now group the oppressors into our historical & cultural identity
this documentary is german propaganda. Russians have nothing to do with the song and dance festival, but DW seems to invite 2 russian women from Moscow as if to say "okay, also russians participate in this and everyone is so united, both latvians and russians". In reality, completely wrong. The tradition is a latvian tradition which was created as a tool for protesting the occupiers rule over Latvia and spreading the message about what Russia has done to us through our songs. Of course there are not only songs about sorrow and hatred towards our oppresor. There are lots of joyful songs. But the point is, russia is exactly the opposite in this context about the tradition. This documentary is a lie.
Dude, did you seriously write a second comment on this topic? Grow up
Rightful soviet clay
Malaysia - rightful British clay.
So,so.Till level of Mass Games ( North Korean version of Dzismusvētki) long way to go.
I was in Riga this past February it is truly a special place. I hope tension between the ethnic Latvians and Russians gets better.
Latvia is poor country with its natural resources but the people seem to be warm and friendly,Greetings from Iran
Saying that Russians lack courage to influence governance in Russia is naive, because the protests there have taken high waves over the decades. Maybe numbers are not big enough for the population that lives there, similarly to how we, Latvians, lack the same courage he speaks of, people feel comfortable to sit in their chairs and sofas and act all smart and arrogant, and whining constantly instead of going out in protests against current government that purposefully sinks this country down.
cry me a river :)
If the lady wants to help her own country. Perhaps need start to speak in native language rather than ruski? 😂
fake fact video
Love Latvia from Russia!
They're beautiful and maintained thier clean gene pool because of thier religious culture
there are hundreds of millions of non white Christians
What do you mean by clean gene pool? You do realise that during WWII all the nationalities mixed, moved, had international couples, right? And just for the information - this festival has nothing to do with religion. Latvian folk traditions come mostly from our paganism ❤
All 3 Baltic countries do this ya know... Not even Latvians would say this is just about Latvia. If you replaced every mention of Latvia with Lithuania in this, it would be mostly relevant (other than the part about Russians.... A lot of soviets got disappeared in our country lol).
bizzare words "kantri" "kalcha" we all are people, who are born free and equal.
People have no difficulties with relationship It is government wonted to be Government of US .
Super !!!! Girl in russich language tell everyting about culture Latvia !!!!! Latvija Rusland - friends !!!!!