Based on a Soviet propaganda story about Young Pioneer (the Soviet equivalent of a Boy Scout) Morozov, who denounced his father to Stalin’s secret police and was in turn killed by his family. His life exemplified the duty of all good Soviet citizens to become informers, at any expense. In our film, 75 years later, we call him little Janis. He is a Pioneer who lives on the Soviet collective farm “Dawn”. His father is an enemy of the farm (and the Soviet system) and plots against it. Little Janis betrays his father; his father takes revenge upon his son. Who then in this old Soviet tale is good and who is bad? This film reveals that a distorted brain is always dangerous. Even today.
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Cast
38 people
Antons Georgs Grauds
Little Janis
No other roles listed
Vilis Daudziņš
Little Janis' Father
Known for
The Rifleman
The Man Who Saved the World
Wiktor Zborowski
Karl Ivanovitš
Known for
Spoor
With Fire and Sword
Āris Rozentāls
Karl Ivanovitš (voice)
Also in
The Man in the Orange Jacket
Jesus Shows You the Way to the Highway
Andris Keišs
Jekabs Kalnins
Known for
Loveless
The Wizard of the Kremlin
Liena Šmukste
Mirdza Ozolina
Also in
The Lesson
Riga's Lilac
Ģirts Krūmiņš
Joosep Ozolin
Also in
Defenders of Riga
Agency
Rūdolfs Plēpis
Narrator
Also in
Wait for the «John Grafton»
The Times of the Surveyors
Ivars Brakovskis
Doctor
Known for
Catherine the Great
Beatrise Gulbe
Pioneer
No other roles listed
Gatis Gāga
Karl Ivanovitš's Assistant
Known for
The Rifleman
Uldis Lieldidzs
Teacher
Known for
To the Stars by Hard Ways
Laila Pakalnina Director · Wojciech Staroń Cinematographer Kaspar Kallas Editor
United States release June 5, 2016 · Produced in Estonia, Latvia, Poland · Production Staron Film
Production
Hargla Company
Production
Staron Film
Production
Estonia · Latvia · Poland
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Ausma
Original language
Latvian
Spoken on screen
Latvian
Release dates
Estonia · November 18, 2015
Premiere · Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
Latvia · November 23, 2015
Theatrical
United States · June 5, 2016
Premiere · Seattle International Film Festival
Lithuania
April 2, 2016 · Premiere · Vilnius International Film Festival
Poland
July 22, 2016 · Premiere · T-Mobile New Horizons International Film Festival
March 31, 2017 · Theatrical
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