A poignant script, attractive production design and appealing performances bring something fresh to familiar coming-of-age tropes in “On the Water.” Estonia’s submission for the international feature Oscar, the film unfolds in rural Soviet Estonia in the early 1980s, during a pivotal year in the life of the shy teen protagonist that finds him slowly unlocking his potential. The touching yet never sentimental screenplay is by Olavi Ruitlane, based on his own best-selling novel. Balancing gentle humor with the hard facts of life, veteran helmer Peeter Simm finds strong visuals and the correct tone to deliver the story.
Some 40 years ago, this sort of film would have been a staple at every international film festival, but may now seem old-fashioned. Nevertheless, the film’s sympathetic qualities and professional tech credits make it a solid bet for streaming platforms or smaller arthouse distributors.
In the small southern town of Võru, 12-year-old...
Some 40 years ago, this sort of film would have been a staple at every international film festival, but may now seem old-fashioned. Nevertheless, the film’s sympathetic qualities and professional tech credits make it a solid bet for streaming platforms or smaller arthouse distributors.
In the small southern town of Võru, 12-year-old...
- 11/12/2021
- by Alissa Simon
- Variety Film + TV
The children’s film, penned by Aidi Vallik, is currently filming in Laitse’s Soviet radio station. Jaak Kilmi is now filming his new feature, a children’s film titled The Sleeping Beast. The project follows Kilmi’s two latest endeavours, namely Latvian-Estonian children’s adventure film Christmas in the Jungle (yet to be released) and the Latvian-German-Czech-Estonian documentary My Father the Spy (2019). The story of The Sleeping Beast, penned by Aidi Vallik, follows a ten-year-old child called Kristjan, who finds himself up against his friends during one of their games, when Elmar, the tough guard of their make-believe playground, falls into a deep hole. Freeing the guard would mean abandoning his friends and being kicked out of their gang, but could a ten-year-old bring himself to do it? The cast includes young newcomers Nils Jaagup England, Rebeka Kask, Una Marta Soms, Laura Vahtre and Kimi Reiko Pilipenko, alongside professional actors Andres Lepik,...
Yung: The opening sequence contains all the ingredients that will make Henning Gronkowski's feature debut such a slippery piece of work Photo: Courtesy of PÖFF My very first day in Tallinn, where the weather is mild, the people friendly, and the films plentiful.
Between Covers (Hölma all)
The opening image of writer/director Siima Tamm's feature debut - a wide shot of a snow-covered icy lake, all white and blank and unforgiving - sets the tone perfectly for the rest of the film. For Between Covers (Hölma all) is to be a minimalist project, unfolding with a chilly sparseness that requires viewers to bring their own warmth.
Marti (Erki Laur) lives alone in the Estonian woodlands, working outdoors, reading, and heating up by the stove or even in the sauna attached to his isolated home. His only outside contact - and he likes it that way - is the...
Between Covers (Hölma all)
The opening image of writer/director Siima Tamm's feature debut - a wide shot of a snow-covered icy lake, all white and blank and unforgiving - sets the tone perfectly for the rest of the film. For Between Covers (Hölma all) is to be a minimalist project, unfolding with a chilly sparseness that requires viewers to bring their own warmth.
Marti (Erki Laur) lives alone in the Estonian woodlands, working outdoors, reading, and heating up by the stove or even in the sauna attached to his isolated home. His only outside contact - and he likes it that way - is the...
- 11/24/2018
- by Anton Bitel
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
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