Soviet Union, Latvia, 1964. Ulya, an Old Believer teenage girl nearly two metres tall, grows up on a remote farm. Her unusual height troubles her family, who wonder if there’s a place for her in the world. When her class photo catches the attention of basketball coaches, Ulya is taken off to the capital, Riga, to join a famous basketball team. 

This visually exquisite, black-and-white existential slapstick follows an oversized character (compellingly embodied by Kārlis Arnolds Avots) who does not fit into either of the worlds in which she finds herself, be it the farm in rural eastern Latvia or the doping-ridden environment of socialist sport. Inspired by the early years of legendary Latvian basketball player Ulyana Semjonova, Ulya offers a haunting portrait of otherness, longing for connection and the difficult path towards self-possession.

The film had its world premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, where it was selected for the Un Certain Regard section. It will represent Latvia at the Oscars.