Baltic Football News attended the premiere of the latest documentary about Baltic football – a sequel to RFS’s 2022 docuseries on their journey to the Conference League. This is a review of their newest film, which chronicles the ‘magic’ 2024 season, during which the club won a domestic double and debuted in the UEFA Europa League.
“When I joined the team, the club lacked a stadium, we didn’t have a training ground, and from an outsider’s perspective, it looked like a club with little. Yet in four years, the infrastructure and team success have developed rapidly,” reflects RFS club captain Žiga Lipušček from the big screen of ‘Forum Cinemas’ in the latest RFS documentary, Cīņa Par Sapni (Fight for a Dream).
In those four years since Lipušček joined RFS, the club has undergone a remarkable transformation. Tonight, we find ourselves in a packed cinema, witnessing the story of its achievements on the European stage. Fight for a Dream is a testament to RFS’s evolution, earning national recognition and numerous accolades along the way.
The 2024 season was one to remember for RFS. From the impressively rapid construction of a new stand at LNK Sporta Parks at the season’s outset to the club’s respectable performance in the Europa League and the sudden surge in its fanbase, the documentary captures the essence of what, perhaps, football fans in the region secretly crave the most – real, rapid progress. Through the voices of players, their families, club insiders and fans, it re-tells a compelling story of ambition, resilience, and community spirit. At its core, this film demonstrates how, with the right leadership, a club can be built to become competitive on a continental level and even challenge European footballing giants.
The ‘behind-the-scenes’ approach follows a familiar format for those aware of the RFS story. However, this documentary offers a more intimate look at the personal lives of those involved in the club—an aspect often overlooked in traditional sports narratives. The film brings an emotional depth, portraying the sacrifices and realities of family life that accompany the pursuit of footballing success.
A recurring theme throughout the documentary is the importance of structure, systems, and sensible club management, all underpinned by a ‘family mentality.’ The film effectively underscores how these elements contribute to RFS’s growing success and influence within Latvian and European football.
However, the documentary is not without its shortcomings. The biggest setback lies in its constrained timeline and what seems like the tight filming schedule. One would expect the narrative to build toward the drama of RFS’s European campaign, but instead, the story feels somewhat rushed and off-balance. The Europa League experience— the very crux of the documentary’s premise—is condensed into a fleeting segment which misses the opportunity to provide a more in-depth exploration of the club’s journey through the competition.
Another glaring omission is the absence of any meaningful coverage of the Latvian domestic league – the Virslīga. Given the significance of the 2024 season, marked by the rivalry with Riga FC and RFS’s dramatic cup run, this exclusion diminishes the documentary’s completeness. It also lacks the ability to support the domestic story, thus failing to help raise its profile. A broader perspective on the club’s challenges and triumphs within its domestic league would have provided valuable context to its European success.
At times, the documentary’s storyline feels predictable, with its primary focus on European exploits. While this is undoubtedly a crucial element, opportunities were missed to showcase the full story of RFS’s season.
Despite these limitations, Fight for a Dream remains an engaging watch, offering a nostalgic journey through a defining period of Latvian football history. The underlying message—‘do everything you can’—resonates strongly, making this an inspiring footballing story that deserves to be seen.
Ultimately, while the film delivers an emotional and compelling narrative, it falls short of fully capturing the broader significance of RFS’s 2024 season, including winning the domestic double and its impact on Latvian and Baltic football, domestically and internationally. This lack of critical awareness holds the story back and, for those of us who lived through the ‘magic season’ together with the club, fails to fully convey what it really felt like to fight for the dream.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars. Certainly worth a watch!
