Four White Shirts () or Breathe Deeply (Elpojiet dziüi) is a 1967 romantic drama film directed by Rolands Kalnià Âà ¡. The film was prevented from being screened by Soviet censors for 20 years following its release. In 2018, Four White Shirts was featured in the 2018 Cannes Classics program.
The film centers around a telephone repairman named CÃÂzars Kalnià Âà ¡, who writes music for his friend's rock band âÂÂOptimistiâ (The Optimists). Culture worker Anita Sondore reports Kalnià Âà ¡â lyrics to the authorities due to their criticism of prevalent social values, leading to conflicts between Kalnià Âà ¡, his bandmates, and the Soviet authorities.ÃÂ
The film's music was written by Imants Kalnià Âà ¡ and lyrics by the poet MÃÂris ÃÂaklais. The music was sung by actors Lëga Liepià Âa, Pauls ButkeviÃÂs, and Juris Strenga. Despite the film being informally banned for twenty years, many of the songs including âÂÂDziesma par Napoleonuâ started being played by Kalnià Âà ¡â band Menuets and became well-known hits. In 2014, music publisher <nowiki></nowiki>Upe tt<nowiki></nowiki> released MÃÂris ÃÂaklais' book <nowiki></nowiki>Stikla saksofonists<nowiki></nowiki> with two CDs. On the first CD, the writer reads his poetry, and the second CD includes original music from the movie. This is not only the film's first full-length movie soundtrack, but also the first music album. The tracks include:
The film's screening was restricted by Soviet authorities for nearly twenty years after its original premiere due to its controversial stance on censorship, not becoming widely shown until 1987. In 2018, the film was digitally restored and shown at the Cannes Film Festival by director Rolands Kalnià Âà ¡ in the Buñuel Hall of the Festival Castle.
The film has been included into the Latvian Culture Canon as one of 99 elements in recognition of its historical and cultural value, one of just twelve films.