Films from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia ?
From Estonia, The Temptation of St. Tony: http://mubi.com/films/21832
One of the best films of recent years. Check out the filmography of Sharunas Bartas (http://mubi.com/cast_members/66752). He is Lithuanian.
Contemporary Lithuanian Cinema
I’ve seen very few films from Latvia (favorite being Krisana/Fallen) and a few shorts.
Estonia…I have no idea. Dimitris might know of some films from these regions.
I’ve seen a handful of exceptional ANIMATION shorts thanks to SurrealMoviez (hell, we’re talking about a whole school of animation there, much like Croatia, I highly suggest Riho Unt) but other than that, I’m as experienced as you are with Estonian cinema Glem, albeit thanks for the flatter, haha.
Tony is indeed a masterpiece and Veiko Õunpuu is one I’m eagerly looking forward to see more, at least the rest of his filmography. Any Estonian users that may help with more recommendations?
I’ve barely seen anything from Estonia, but I found Arvo Kruusement’s Kevade to be a nice coming-of-age film, set in an Estonian boarding school.
In terms of Estonian films here on the site, a list that I came across recently may be of interest to others too: Estonian movies.
Raphaella—Excellent thread.
Bartas is incredible—he was my favorite to win the Cup last year. Thanks for the rest of these recommendations, everyone (and keep em coming).
Somnambulist is the expert you wanna ask. And: we need those countries to be represented in the upcoming MUBI World Cup badly!!
Sarunas Bartas gets the most press outside the Baltics, and well deserved. There is a nice little renaissance in film going on at the moment. Lots of new and engaging films. There a new film Amaya that straddles several countries. Latvian director (Maris Martinsons) with Lithuanian and Japanese actors. It also goes by Hong Kong Confidential. The funny part is that the popular Lithuanian singer Andrius Mamantovas plays an “Englishman” in Hong Kong. Haven’t seen it, but looks well done.
Martinsons also did Loss which explores immigration between the Baltics and Ireland. Pretty good Lithuanian cast.
The 1993 Estonian film Darkness in Tallinn (Jarvilaturi) is well worth seeing but not on mubi
Is there an upcoming world cup? Maybe we could have a little qualifying tournament, or on the other hand potential participating countries might be better off holding fire for the main event. Anyway i think we could have a Balkans team. Australia + NZ wouldn’t need separate teams next time, and Portugal is a deserving country yet to take part in the cups. I’d thought a Euro tournament in between world cups, as in the football, might be useful
@Kenji: Well I hope there is one! (this was my suggestion for teams/countries back then)
I’ll note a couple of films considered as Estonian film classics. Hullumeelsus, Hukkunud Alpinisti Hotell, Kevade, Viimne Reliikvia, Siin Me Oleme, Noor Pensionär, Ukuaru, Ideaalmaastik. These films are probably the ones most Estonians can go on about and approve.
As for contemporaries, the most discussed is definitely Veiko Õunpuu.
Another one is Ilmar Raag’s Klass, in ways similar to the french namesake The Class.
Also Jaak Kilmi’s media documentary Disko Ja Tuumasõda.
I personally find Estonia’s pride of film-art in animation. Priit Pärn, Avo Paistik, Kaspar Jancis, Ülo Pikkov, Riho Unt.
To be honest I have no idea how could one get his hands on a lot of these.
I rarely see an Estonian piece go round anywhere but on shelf..
“And: we need those countries to be represented in the upcoming MUBI World Cup badly!!”
Upcoming? :P
Grey, if those countries get their own individual credit, I demand that Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Romania and Greece be individually represented as well ;)
“Anyway i think we could have a Balkans team.”
Portugal alone and Balkans entwined again? No sir!
The trailer for Tony looks interesting, but it seems like a style over substance film. am i wrong? havne’t seen it. i read somewhere that it goes for the obvious shock at times and doesn’t rise above its influences, whereas others are claiming that it’s borderline genius.
i’m guessing the truth is somewhere in between.
Tony is fine but it doesn’t rise above its (very obvious) influences that you can map out with a checklist or a cookbook (a pinch of Kaurismaki here, a dash of Tarr there, a tablespoon of Roy Andersson, a teaspoon of Lynch, etc,etc). I liked the film okay but I don’t get the ravenous over-extravagant praise.
The Estonian documentary Disco and Atomic War is one of the more enjoyable docs I’ve seen in the past year.
It’s from 2002, but this was a very enjoyable Lithuanian documentary about a man and his pig,
Venecijus’s Life and Cerzaris’s Death
plus, you can take a peak at the Lithuanian film center.
THE SHOE [KURDE] by Laila Pakalnina is a terrific and beautifully shot Latvian film. In the US it is available on Facets DVD. The story involves some soldiers looking for a woman who left a shoe out on a forbidden beach. It’s an anti-Communst parable shot with long gliding takes.
Also GEORGICA by Sulev Keedus is good. It’s about a mute boy who visits an old man who lives on a deserted island that is used for target practice by Soviet fighter planes. I don’t remember much about but it was meditative.
Sharunas bartas is a great lit director, strongly recommended. “Lithuanian documentary about a man and his pig” now that’s a subject.
And for what it’s worth, for landscape alone: STALKER in Estonia.
“Fallen” played at the Melbourne International Film Festival several years ago. The great part was meeting a Latvian couple after the film, one of whom said he’d cross the bridge everyday to work. Apparently it’s a great place for “jumpers” if you know what I mean. Latvia is a very depressed country. The suicide rate in some of these former Soviet countries is staggering.
“Fallen” is actually a Latvian-Germany co-production. Latvia doesn’t have much of a real film industry. I alwayts keep my eyes open for Latvian films at the MIFF but I haven’t noticed much if anything over the past few years.
“The Baltic Love” is an Estonian-Finnish co-production that features all the Baltic languages, plus Russian and English. SBS television used to play this film alll the time. In general, Baltic films don’t get a look from a lot of film festivals and film societys. It’s usually very Spanish-Asian-Franco-Italian oriented. It seems like nobody much cares about Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
But especially not many really care about Latvia.
It’s pretty bad when even your soccer fans would really prefer cheering for a foreign nation.
Documentaries from Latvia
`Family Instinct`by Andris Gauja 2010
homo@lv by Kaspars Goba 2010
`How are you doing Rudolf Ming?` ( Kā tev klājas, Rūdolf Ming?) Roberts Rubīns 2010
`Padoties Aizliegts` by Dzintars Dreibergs 2009
If you can find anywhere the documentary `Bet stunda nāk` with subtitles then it`s MUST SEE one.
And ` Crossroad Street` („Šķērsiela") (1988)
There were a lot of movies made in Latvia in the Soviet Union times, and Latvia has her own classics like `Vella kalpi`, `Limuzīns Jāņu nakts krāsā`, `Emila nedarbi `, lgais ceļš kāpās (Long Road in the Dunes, 1980/1981) etc.
http://www.nfc.lv/news/?id=23 Latvian film center
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdN2JcHwars&feature=related A piece and a song (They danced one Summer) from a 1967 Latvian film “Elpojiet dziļi” or “Breathe deeply”
BALTIE ZVANI (WHITE BELLS) 1961 ’’24
In 1995. in Clermont-Ferran Film Festival (France) it was included in the list of the Top 100 all time best documentary shorts.
More information – http://www.kulturaskanons.lv/en/1/10/100/.
Other notable Latvian films – http://www.kulturaskanons.lv/en/1/10/.
If you want to watch an estonian film, I suggest Here we are (Siin me oleme, 1978).
The Other Dream Team (2012). It was made in USA and shot both there and back in Lithuania, but director is Lithuanian American Marius A. Markevicius. It is a story of the 1992 Lithuanian basketball team, whose athletes struggled under Soviet rule, became symbols of Lithuania’s independence movement, and triumphed at the Barcelona Olympics. This fantastic documentary gets limited release in USA from September 28.
I saw this film at preview screening in Vilnius, Lithuania followed by Q&A with director. I definitely recommend this film to anyone, not only for sports fans, but for everyone who’s interested in how spirit and determination of this tiny country overcame the oppression of the giant.
Recommendations of great Estonian movies can be seen from https://www.tiptheauthors.com/movie-list.php?type=PopularMovies
raphaela
I know nothing of these countries, even less about whatever few films they conceived and achieved.
Please help me out in this matter
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