Epics of Tears Held Back: Latvian Film Director Dzintra Geka’s Essays on Genocide

<jats:p>This chapter examines the work of Latvian filmmaker Dzintra Geka, who has created an epic body of films focused on the Soviet occupation era deportations and genocidal policies targeting Latvians. Drawing on the traditions of the Riga School of Poetic Documentary, Geka’s films combine eyewitness testimony, ritualistic journeys, and artistic metaphor to convey trauma, survival, and national memory. Her approach merges genres such as the essay film, travelogue, and testimonial documentary, echoing from figures like Claude Lanzmann and Chris Marker. Geka’s work affirms the urgency of remembrance and justice, constructing a collective history through intimate micro-narratives and ritual acts.</jats:p>