Basketball Legend Ulya's Story Hits Cannes

A new biographical drama, 'Ulya,' inspired by the life of legendary Latvian basketball player Uļjana Semjonova, is set to world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Directed by Viesturs Kairišs, the film traces Semjonova's path from a rural upbringing in an Old Believers community, where her unusual height caused her to feel like an outsider, to achieving basketball superstardom.

The film, which begins in 1964 Soviet Union-era Latvia, explores Semjonova's struggles with identity and societal norms. Despite initial challenges and self-doubt, she embraces her unique qualities after being scouted by basketball coaches in Riga. The narrative culminates in her facing a pivotal choice: to hide or to strive for greatness.

'Ulya' features Latvian actor Kārlis Arnolds Avots as the basketball icon and was co-written by Avots, Livia Ulman, and Andris Feldmanis. The black-and-white film aims to provide a glimpse into the life of someone who realized her path would never be ordinary. Exclusive clips offer peeks into intense training sessions and her religious upbringing.