Film "Bearslayer", 1930, by Director Aleksandrs Rusteiķis (1892–1958)
“Bearslayer” (Lāčplēsis) is one of Latvia’s only surviving fiction films from the silent era of film. It is also the first attempt by the newly independent Latvian nation to make a full-length feature film and begin to experiment with themes of nationalism and national identity in cinema. The film is included in the canon not only for these reasons, but also for its ability to capture the imagination of the Latvian nation and for its own artistic merits outside the framework of populist national cinema.
Dita Rietuma on the film "Bearslayer" in the Latvian Culture Canon, 2008. (in Latvian)
Brochure for the film "Bearslayer". (1930). Rīga: Aizsargu organizācija. National Library of Latvia, Collection of Small Prints. (in Latvian)
Advertisement handout for the film "Bearslayer" in the cinema "Kino-Gloria". (1930). Rīga: Izdevējs, 1930. National Library of Latvia, Collection of Small Prints. (in Latvian and Russian)
Dita Rietuma on the film "Bearslayer" in the Latvian Culture Canon, 2008.
Pērkone, Inga. (2011). Inscenējumu realitāte: Latvijas aktierkino vēsture (30.-34. lpp.). Rīga: Mansards.
Sila, Tatjana. (2003). Atmiņu lokos: par režisoru Aleksandru Rusteiķi. Rīga: Apgāds Mantojums.
Aleksandrs, Jānis. (1929, 29. dec.). Trīs dienas Latvijas Hollivūdā. Kino, Nr. 50, 1. lpp.
Bērziņš, A. (1930, 15. marts). „Lāčplēsis”. Kino, Nr. 61, 12.-13. lpp.
Filmas „Lāčplēsis ” demonstrēšana Pragā. (1931, 10. febr.). Latvijas Kareivis, Nr. 32, 1. lpp.
Galveno lomu tēlotāji Latvijas filmā. (1929, 27. jūl.). Kino, Nr. 27, 1.-2. lpp.
Ja ne ar zobenu, tad ar pulveri [karikatūra]. (1930, 7. marts). Svari, Nr. 10, 1. lpp.
Latvijas tapšanas filma. (1930, 8. marts). Kino, Nr. 60, 12. lpp.
Lāčplēsis – pirmā nacionālā filma. (1930, 15. marts). Elegantā Rīga, Nr. 6, 6. lpp.