In the Shade of the Oak Tree (2007)

In 2004, as Latvia prepared to join the European Union, the lives of rural people were undergoing a significant shift. This film explores the changes in rural Latvia over the past three decades, examining how the clash between tradition and modernity has inspired farmers to innovate and take control of their land. We meet a German farmer who purchased property in Latvia, the leader of a large parish, a family of young people who are returning to their roots, and those embracing an eco-conscious lifestyle – including soybean farmers, one of whom takes out a bank loan for the first time to expand their organic farm.