November
World premiere: Tribeca Film Festival
Based on the novel Rehepapp by Andrus Kivirähk
The story is set in a pagan Estonian village where werewolves, the plague and spirits roam. The villagers’ main problem is how to survive the cold, dark winter. And, to that aim, nothing is taboo. People steal from each other, from their German manor lords, and from spirits, the devil and Christ. To guard their souls, they’ll give them away to thieving creatures made of wood and metal called kratts, who help their masters by stealing more. They steal even if their barns are already overflowing. Stealing is an obsession that makes the villagers more and more like the soulless creatures they command, the kratts. The main character of the film is a young farm girl named Liina who is hopelessly and forlornly in love with a village boy named Hans. Her longing makes the girl become a werewolf and jump into an ice-cold pond. She’s ready to die in the name of love.
The pragmatic farmers are faced with a question: is the life that they’ve won through so much toil worth anything, if it lacks a soul?
Crew
Written and directed by: Rainer Sarnet
Producer: Katrin Kissa
Co-producers: Ellen Havenith, Łukasz Dzięcioł
Cinematographer: Mart Taniel
Production designers: Jaagup Roomet, Matis Mäesalu
Costume designer: Jaanus Vahtra
Make-up designer: Anu Konze
Editor: Jarosław Kamiński
Sound designer: Marco Vermaas
Composer: Michał Jacaszek
Poster design: Margus Tamm
World Sales: One Eyed Films
US distribution: Oscilloscope
Cast
Rea Lest, Jörgen Liik, Arvo Kukumägi, Katariina Unt, Meelis Rämmeld, Jette Loona Hermanis, Taavi Eelmaa, Dieter Laser, Mari Abel, Sepa Tom
Production companies
Homeless Bob Production (EE)
PRPL (NL)
Opus Film (PL)
Festivals
Tribeca Film Festival. New York, USA
PÖFF – Black Nights Film Festival. Tallinn, Estonia
Shanghai International Film Festival. Shanghai, China
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
Fantasia International Film Festival. Montreal, Kanada
CPH PIX. Copenhagen, Denmark
Love and Anarchy – Helsinki International Film Festival. Helsinki, Finland
Sitges – International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia. Sitges, Spain
Chicago International Film Festival. Chicago, USA
Kaohsiung Film Festival. Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
Cork International Film Festival. Cork, Ireland
CAMERIMAGE International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography. Toruń, Poland
AFI EU Film Showcase. Washington D.C., USA
International Film Festival of Kerala. Kerala, India
Göteborg Film Festival. Göteborg, Sweden
Imagine Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. Bucheon, South Korea
Selected awards and nominations
Estonian submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
ASC Awards – American Society of Cinematographers. Spotlight Award (Mart Taniel)
Fantasporto. Special Jury Prize (Rainer Sarnet); Best Cinematography (Mart Taniel)
Tribeca Film Festival. Nominated for Best International Narrative Feature; Best Cinematography in an International Narrative Feature (Mart Taniel)
PÖFF – Black Nights Film Festival. Best Estonian Film
Festival l’Europe autour de l’Europe. Prix Luna (Rainer Sarnet)
goEast – Festival of Central and Eastern European Film. Best Film
Listapad – Minsk International Film Festival. Best Film; Yury Maruhkin Memorial award for Best Cinematography (Mart Taniel); Best Score (Michał Jacaszek)
Riga International Film Festival. Best Film; Splendid Palace People’s Choice Award
Estonian Film and TV Awards. Best Feature Film; Best Actress (Rea Lest); Best Director (Rainer Sarnet); Best Production Design (Jaagup Roomet); Best Cinematography (Mart Taniel); Best Composer (Michał Jacaszek); Best Sound Designer (Marco Vermaas); Best Costume Designer (Jaanus Vahtra); Craft of the Year (Taivo Tenso); Nominated for Best Actor (Jörgen Liik); Nominated for Best Screenplay (Rainer Sarnet)
