Vai viegli būt jaunam?

This cinematic harbinger of Perestroika was one of the first films to make use of the new glasnost (openness) proclaimed by Gorbachev and creates an honest snapshot of the youth of its time. Latvian director Juris Podnieks interviews students, punks, young professionals and Afghanistan war veterans, who speak openly about their fears, doubts and dreams. The dramatic arc of this documentary is formed by the story of several young people who destroyed two regional train carriages following a rock concert as part of an intoxicated crowd and are now on trial for their actions. The story of the young people being presented in this show trial poses the same urgent question that applies to entire the young Perestroika generation: can young people growing up in a corrupt society be condemned for their improper conduct? (nf/gv)