November 18th

On November 18, 1918, Riga, the capital of Latvia, fell under German control. Chaos, destruction, despair, and mortal danger engulfed its people. The war was supposed to be over, with the armistice signed with Germany, but it did not. This is what we follow in the diary of a soldier who describes his reflections on those days during World War I, after deciding to leave Riga and desert the army, seeking refuge from this chaos. During his long and arduous journey, he encounters many people, documenting their experiences and how they cope with those seemingly endless, uncertain times. It is no wonder, then, that November 18, 1918, is now celebrated as the birth of the Latvian nation, when a small group of Latvians gathered in the heart of the then-occupied city to formally establish their nation-state. Here, the soldier's reflections deepen, reflecting on what he witnessed during the war and even decades after its end. The question remains: Is there any hope for peace among nations?