After reading the reviews, which seem a little unfair. The costumes, the production and the acting was actually good. The sub-plots were at times, tedious and opportunities were certainly lost in character development. However, if criticism is to be laid at the film's door, surely its the lack of or omission of the complex political struggles that were happening in this new-independent state. The lead character Martin, a nationalist, but never given the meat to espouse the nationalist cause. I saw two opportunities in which a real grasp of the issues could've been explained, even a debate! But no, it was just nationalism in the face of imperialist aggression, whilst in the midst of these political forces a new Bolshiveik/Communist regime was now in existence. The battle scenes were thorough and realistic enough. Some individual scenes in the latter half of the film should be best forgotten. Overall a reasonable film that was dis-jointed by useless sub-plots that did not enrich the film, the political radicalism and confusion was missed, this meant that a film about Riga will only be for an audience of Riga. Latvia is a part of the world, so ....show yourselves to the world.