Feature, Latvia, 2016, Director: Viesturs Kairišs,'120 DK: Filmen "The Chronicles of Melanie" er baseret på en fortælling om den lettiske kvinde Mel?nija Vanagas liv og hvordan hun overlevede at blive deporteret fra Letland til Siberien under Anden Verdenskrig. Det er en sandfærdig fortælling om hvor mirakuløst mennesket er, dets fantastiske ånd, samt de smertefulde skæbner, der blev en del af den forfærdelige tragedie Letland blev mødt af. Dette er en historie om en af de kvinder, der måtte lide og overleve både fysisk og psykisk for fædrelandet. Kampen for at opretholde håbet og bevare forstanden under de mest forfærdelige vilkår, hvor sult, kulde, ondskab og selv død pludselig er ens nærmeste. Melanija Vanaga skrev om disse oplevelser og de grusomme minder derfra, som senere blev til en bog, der blev udgivet i 1991 lige efter Letland fik deres uafhængighed tilbage. Den handler om hendes personlige historie og familie, såvel som nationen Letland. "The Chronicles of Melanie" modtog European Film Award under den estiske Black Night Film Festival, der blev afholdt i november 2016 i Tallinn. ENG: The film "The Chronicles of Melanie" is based on the life story of Mel?nija Vanaga, a Latvian woman who managed to survive her deportation to Siberia. It is a truthful account of the miracle of human character, magnitude of the human spirit and the painful destinies, which were a part of the greatest tragedy facing the Latvian nation. It is the story of a women who had to suffer and survive physically and emotionally in order for Latvia to live. To maintain hope, to preserve in oneself a person who is stronger than famine, cold, cruelty and even death and is capable of taking on responsibility for another person, to help others - such is the confirmation of Melanija Vanaga, her memories and also this film to the light in the world and in every one of us. Out of her notes, Mel?nija Vanaga prepared a book of documentary prose Ve?upes krast?, which was published in 1991, soon after Latvia regained independence. Later, it served as the concluding volume in Vanaga's seven-book series "The Gathering of Souls" about the personal history of her family and entire Latvia. "The Chronicles of Melanie" recieved the European Film award under the Black Night Film Festival in November 2016.