The Chronicles of Melanie (2016)

In the chilling dawn of June 14, 1941, a grim reality unfolds under Stalin's iron command. Beyond the borders of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, over 40,000 souls are seized, unceremoniously bundled into cattle cars, and dispatched into the unforgiving embrace of Siberian exile. Among them is Melanie, a resilient journalist, and her young son Andrejs, cruelly torn from the arms of their beloved Aleksandrs. "The Chronicles of Melanie" paints a hauntingly realistic portrayal of this mass deportation, a terrifying episode in the annals of Soviet-occupied Latvia. Thrust into barren Siberian barracks, the women, unaware of their husbands' fates, are reduced to slavery, their spirits battered but unbroken. Melanie, driven by an undying love for her son and husband, clings fiercely to life, her hope undimmed even in the face of starvation, grueling labor, and rampant disease. Her lifeline — hundreds of unsent letters penned to her lost Aleksandrs, their address as elusive as the man himself. Through these letters, she pours her enduring love, her fears, and her dreams of their reunion, keeping her spirit aflame amidst the icy Siberian wilderness. After enduring sixteen harrowing years of exile, Melanie finally walks free, only to be dealt a crushing blow. Returning to Riga, she learns that her dear Aleksandrs succumbed to the brutal camps as early as 1942. Based on the true story of Melanija Vanaga, "The Chronicles of Melanie" serves as a stark reminder of an era steeped in fear and courage, love and loss, offering a brutally realistic glimpse into a chapter of history that should never be forgotten.

The Chronicles of Melanie is a drama movie featuring Sabine Timoteo and directed by Viesturs Kairišs.

The Chronicles of Melanie is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on The Roku Channel.

It is also possible to buy The Chronicles of Melanie on Amazon Video.