The Illustrated Family Doctor, the first feature film by Latvian-Australian writer and director Kriv Stenders, opens in Australian theatres March 3.

The film, Stenders said in a prepared statement, “is a dark comedy that centers around the story of Gary Kelp, a young man who condenses reference books for a company called the Info Digest. The film begins with Gary’s father death, and Gary having to start work on condensing a home medical journal called The Illustrated Family Doctor.”

The film is based on a 1997 novel by David Snell and stars Samuel Johnson as David Kelp. In 2002, the film received funding from the Film Finance Corporation Australia.

Stenders previously has directed music videos and short films, as well as the award-winning 1994 documentary, Motherland, about his two Latvian grandmothers. Stenders also wrote the script for Motherland. The documentary was filmed in Brisbane, Australia, and in Latvia.

Stenders is a 1989 graduate of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School.