Memories of the 90s: Nostalgia and Rebellion in the Novel “Jelgava 94” (Video)

First published in 2013, the book quickly became a bestseller in Latvia, winning the Latvian Annual Literary Award and the European Union Prize for Literature. It has since been translated into 20 languages and adapted into a feature film.

The story follows 14-year-old Jānis, an ordinary student whose life changes after the death of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. His grief turns into fascination, and he begins exploring the darker corners of identity, music, and youth resistance. 

Alongside his peers, Jānis dives headfirst into the heavy metal scene, discovering a raw, unfiltered version of adolescence, one that defies rules, embraces chaos, and searches for authenticity in a world that feels hollow and transitional.

The film adaptation, released in 2019, was shot in Jelgava itself, where much of the Soviet architecture remains untouched, preserving the gritty atmosphere of the decade. Though the crew struggled to find a school that hadn’t been renovated, the rest of the setting felt like a time capsule.

For many, “Jelgava 94” brings back memories of first loves, street fights, DIY band posters, and jeans scrawled with Nirvana lyrics. It captures a generation caught between collapse and creation, finding freedom in distortion and identity in noise.