A new ethnographic documentary titled Latgales zelta pods (The Pot of Gold of Latgale) has been released
On April 24 and 25, during the 2025 Latgale Potters’ Days, the Latgale Culture and History Museum in Rēzekne and Lūznava Manor hosted screenings of the ethnographic documentary film Latgales zelta pods (The Pot of Gold of Latgale, 2024), created by Aigars Lielbārdis. The film is dedicated to the history of pottery in Latgale and to some of the most remarkable personalities in the field today.
The documentary explores generations of potters from Latgale—such as the Ušpelis, Čerņavskis, and Vogulis families—and delves into the origins and guiding principles of the Latgalian pottery collective “Pūdnīku skūla”, through the personal account of its founder, potter Evalds Vasilevskis.
The film introduces viewers to the distinctive features of Latgalian pottery, including traditional methods of clay extraction, vessel shaping, color usage, and firing techniques, both historical and contemporary.
Among the potters featured in the film are Raivo Andersons, Jāzeps Caics, Jāzeps Čerņavskis, Jolanta and Valdis Dundenieki, Pēteris Gailums, Andris Ušpelis, Antons Ušpelis, Vēsma and Aivars Ušpeļi, Viktors Ušpelis, Evalds Vasilevskis, Staņislavs Viļums, Voldemārs, Jānis and Māris Vogulis, and others. Also appearing are art historians, researchers, and educators: Evija Vasilevska, Imants Klīdzējs, Silva Linarte, and Ingrīda Burāne.
The documentation of pottery traditions in Latgale and the core audiovisual material for the film were gathered during the research project Latvijas zelta pods (The Pot of Gold of Latvia), carried out from 2014 to 2016 in collaboration with the Association of Memorial Museums, with the support of the State Culture Capital Foundation (VKKF).
The film’s director and cinematographer is Aigars Lielbārdis; concept by Sigita Kušnere; script by Janīna Kursīte and Aigars Lielbārdis; producers Rūta Šmite and Evija Vasilevska.
The film was made with the support of the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia (UL ILFA), the VKKF target programme for the Development of Latvia’s Historical Regions, and the Latgale Regional Development Agency.
📸 In the photo: potter Staņislavs Viļums. Still from the film Latgales zelta pods (2024).