BioGraphy
Kaspars PŪCE
Kaspars Pūce was born on August 2, 1948, in Strenči, Latvia, to a father who was a theater and film director, and a mother who was an actress.
In October 1948, his father, Voldemārs Pūce, who had lived in Germany for two years following the German occupation of Latvia, was arrested for anti-Soviet activities and collaboration with the fascists. After several months of imprisonment in Latvia, he was sentenced to 25 years of strict regime detention (строгий режим) in February 1949 and sent to Vorkuta, in the Russian Far North.
On March 20, 1949, when he was only a few months old, Kaspars and his mother, Daila, were deported. They were sent to a village along the Amur River, in the Russian Far East, where they lived for seven years. From their respective places of deportation, Kaspars' parents exchanged numerous letters in Russian and Latvian, which they both kept.
Stalin's death in 1953 improved the conditions for special deportees. In June 1956, Kaspars and his mother were allowed to leave the Amur region to reunite with Voldemārs in Vorkuta. It was the first time Kaspars saw his father, who had been arrested when he was only two months old.
A year later, Kaspars and his mother were released, and Kaspars' parents decided to send him back to Latvia to provide him with a Latvian education and introduce him to his native country.
Kaspars left Vorkuta with a Latvian family. Upon arrival in Latvia, he lived with his aunt and started attending Latvian school. The first year of school proved to be particularly challenging for Kaspars as he spoke Russian much more easily than Latvian. His parents, meanwhile, remained in Vorkuta. It was only upon Voldemārs' release in June 1959 that they returned, along with their newborn, Dace. Kaspars' father initially struggled to find work due to his previous conviction. However, he eventually managed to restart his career and became a recognized director.
Kaspars, on the other hand, became an actor. He still lives in Riga and is currently writing his father's memoirs.
The interview with Kaspars Pūce was conducted in 2018 by Amine Laggoune.
His father’s career, 1 of 2
Kaspars Pūce describes his father’s career as a recognised Latvian film-maker under Latvia’s successive occupations.
His father’s career, 2 of 2
Kaspars Pūce describes his father’s career and arrest in October 1948.
Deportation
Kaspars Pūce describes how he and his mother were deported to the Russian Far East.
Letters between the Amur and Vorkuta
Kaspars Pūce describes how his parents wrote to each other when he and his mother were by the River Amur and his father was in Vorkuta.
Latvian colours on a Christmas doll
Kaspars Pūce describes how he father, imprisoned in Vorkuta made a Christmas doll (Ded Moroz – Grandfather Frost) dressed in the colours of the Latvian flag.
Reluctantly learning Latvian
Kaspars Pūce describes how his mother and other Latvian women deportees forced him to read and speak Latvian in private.
Re-uniting with his father in Vorkuta
Kaspars Pūce describes how he re-united with his father in 1956, after restrictions on deportees’ movement were relaxed.
Learning Latvian again back home
Kaspars Pūce describes the difficulties he had back home, largely due to his poor command of Latvian.
Becoming a pioneer
Becoming a pioneer
Kaspars Pūce describes how as a child he wanted to become a youth movement pioneer.
Statuette of Cupid by Voldemārs Pūce in Vorkuta, sent to his wife for her 30th birthday (Photographer Amine Laggoune, 2018). Source: European Memories of the Gulag. Copyright.
Statuette of Cupid by Voldemārs Pūce in Vorkuta, sent to his wife for her 30th birthday (Photographer Amine Laggoune, 2018). Source: European Memories of the Gulag. Copyright.
Detail of the base of the statuette by Voldemārs Pūce, 1956, dedicated to the workers in Vorkuta (Photographer Amine Laggoune, 2018). Source: European Memories of the Gulag. Copyright.
Statuette by Voldemārs Pūce, 1956, dedicated to the workers in Vorkuta (Photographer Amine Laggoune, 2018). Source: European Memories of the Gulag. Copyright.
Statuette by Voldemārs Pūce, 1956, dedicated to the workers in Vorkuta (Photographer Amine Laggoune, 2018). Source: European Memories of the Gulag. Copyright.
Detail of the base of the statuette by Voldemārs Pūce, 1956, dedicated to the workers in Vorkuta (Photographer Amine Laggoune, 2018). Source: European Memories of the Gulag. Copyright.
Details of wood and bone chess pieces by Voldemārs Pūce in Vorkuta, 1953-1954 (Photographer Amine Laggoune, 2018). Source: European Memories of the Gulag. Copyright.
Details of wood and bone chess pieces by Voldemārs Pūce in Vorkuta, 1953-1954 (Photographer Amine Laggoune, 2018). Source: European Memories of the Gulag. Copyright.
Details of wood and bone chess pieces by Voldemārs Pūce in Vorkuta, 1953-1954 (Photographer Amine Laggoune, 2018). Source: European Memories of the Gulag. Copyright.
Kaspars Pūce with the chess pieces carved by his father Voldemārs Pūce in Vorkuta, 1953-1954 (Photographer Amine Laggoune, 2018). Source: European Memories of the Gulag. Copyright.
Craftwork by Voldemārs Pūce in Vorkuta
During his imprisonment in Vorkuta, Voldemārs Pūce created several objects. Kaspars Pūce has preserved these items. This collection includes two figurines. The first one depicts Cupid and was sent to Kaspars Pūce's mother in 1954 for her 30th birthday. The second one, crafted in 1956, is dedicated to the workers of Vorkuta. Kaspars Pūce has also kept a chess set made by his father between 1953 and 1954, using wood and bones found in Siberia.