Estonian Film Festival'09
Published: 12 January 2012
The best new Estonian documentaries, animation and feature films will be shown! 9th – 11th March, 2009
Estonian Film Festival'09:
Documentaries, animation and feature films
Gilmorehill G12 Cinema
University of Glasgow
9th – 11th March, 2009
Various times
Admission: Free entry
The best new Estonian documentaries, animation and feature films will be shown!
• Alyosha
• Life Stories
• Life Without Gabriella Ferri
• The Class
• I Was Here
Alyosha
Monday 9th March @ 6pm | Documentary (2008)
Russian and Estonian with English subtitles. Written and Directed by Meelis Muhu; Operator: Erik Norkroos. 67min
Most monuments erected during the Soviet regime were taken away after Estonia regained its independence in 1991. The Bronze Soldier Alyosha, located in the centre of Tallinn, remained in its place. For Estonian nationalists this monument was the symbol for Soviet occupation and marked the beginning of Stalinist repressions. However, for many Russians the monument was one of the few remaining symbols that connected them to Russia and Russian identity.
The documentary Alyosha brings us the people who gathered to the Bronze Soldier in 2005-2007 and whose behaviour created a new line in our cultural memory. What mattered were the rituals around the monument, not the monument itself. Differences of opinion about history resulted in tragic conflicts and relocating the monument.
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Life Stories
Monday 9th March @ 7.30pm | Documentary animation (2008)
Estonian with English subtitles. Writers: Mats Traat, Rao Heidmets; Director: Rao Heidmets; Composer: Olav Ehala. 28 min
The basis of this film is a selection of life stories of Estonians from the period 1920 – 2004. The fate of the entire people is reflected in each life story. A particularly characteristic selection of stories of people is found in this film. Life Stories combines documentary film with animation on the screen.
"This film is not fictional. All events portrayed have actually transpired. They are memoirs, moments from life. Our life." (Rao Heidmets)
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Life Without Gabriella Ferri
Tuesday 10th March @ 7pm | Animation (2008)
Estonian with English subtitles. Writer: Priit Pärn; Director: Priit Pärn, Olga Marchenko. 45min
Dramatic story about love, locked doors, a faceless thief, a wounded stork, a lost laptop and virtual prostitutes the O'Key sisters... There is no Gabriella Ferri but there is an almost happy ending.
Festivals and awards: Utrecht (Grand Prix), Leipzig, Fredrikstad
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The Class
Wednesday 11th March @ 5pm | Feature film (2007)
Estonian with English subtitles. Written and directed by Ilmar Raag. 97 min
Seven chapters from the life of the pupils of an anonymous Estonian secondary school. An average guy of an Estonian high-school decides to defend his bullied classmate. This starts war between him and the informal leader of the class. As teenagers' honour is a touchy thing, everything ends in bloodshed.
The film has won the Europa Cinemas Label as Best European film at the 42nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and 3 other awards.
After the film, meeting with writer and film director Ilmar Raag!
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I Was Here
Wednesday 11th March @ 7pm | Feature film (2008)
Estonian with English subtitles. Written by Sass Henno and Ilmar Raag; Director: Rene Vilbre. 94 min
The story (based on the award-winning novel by Sass Henno, I Was Here: First Arrest) is about growing up, about boys who start a game but don't realize how serious it suddenly gets, nor that starting again is no longer possible. A 17 year old boy becomes a drug dealer and this decision draws him into turbulent events he can't control.
The film is this year's Estonian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar nominations.
Before the film, meeting with writer and film director Ilmar Raag!
First published: 12 January 2012