January

Duringthewinterof1991inRiga,18-yearoldJazis’lifeisfraughtwithcomplications.<br/>　　EventhoughLatviannationalindependencehasbeenrestored,theSovietArmyisstill<br/>　　verymuchpresentinthecountryandJazisisatriskofbeingconscriptedandsenttofight<br/>　　inAfghanistan.InJanuary,whentheSovietspecialservicesandmilitaryunitsattemptto<br/>　　overthrowthenewlyindependentgovernment,peoplestartbuildingbarricadesaround<br/>　　strategicallyimportantbuildings,andJazisfindshimselfatthecentreofevents.Jazishas<br/>　　nevertakenaninterestinpolitics.Heispreoccupiedwith“moreimportant”things–bohemia,girls,andfilms.Hedoesnotactivelyparticipateinthebarricadesbutisratherpulled<br/>　　intothisfestivaloflifeanddeathbycircumstance.Thereisanotherissue–unbeknownst<br/>　　tohim,Jazismighthavebecomeafather.Ormaybenot.Uncertaintyiswhatmostprecisely<br/>　　definespublicconsciousnessintheearly1990sinLatvia