The Invisible Fight
Original title: Nähtamatu võitlus
World premiere: Locarno Film Festival
1973, on the USSR–China border. Private Rafael is on guard duty when his post is attacked by kung fu warriors. Rafael is the only survivor, but the attack leaves him fascinated by the martial arts practised by his attackers. Years later, he enters a monastery to train to become an expert kung fu monk. However, he must prove to his masters that, in addition to being a fighter, he can also be a man of God.
Crew
Written and directed by: Rainer Sarnet
Producers: Katrin Kissa, Alise Gelze, Amanda Livanou, Helen Vinogradov
Cinematographer: Mart Taniel
Production designer: Jaagup Roomet
Costume designer: Jaanus Vahtra
Make-up designer: Anu Konze
Editor: Jussi Rautaniemi
Sound designer: Janne Laine
Composer: Koshiro Hino
Poster design: Margus Tamm
World Sales: LevelK
US distribution: Kino Lorber
Cast
Ursel Tilk, Ester Kuntu, Kaarel Pogga, Indrek Sammul, Sepa Tom, Rain Simmul, Maria Avdjuško, Tiina Tauraite, Mari Abel, Rein Oja, Marika Barabanštšikova
Production companies
Homeless Bob Production (EE)
White Picture (LV)
Neda Films (GR)
Helsinki-Filmi (FI)
Festivals
Locarno Film Festival. Locarno, Switzerland
Fantastic Fest. Austin, USA
Love and Anarchy – Helsinki International Film Festival. Helsinki, Finland
Warsaw International Film Festival. Warsaw, Poland
Montreal Festival du Nouveau Cinema. Montreal, Canada
Sitges. Sitges, Spain
SXSW Sydney. Sydney, Australia
The Imagine Film Festival. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Thessaloniki International Film Festival. Thessaloniki, Greece
Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. Mumbai, India
FilmFestival Cottbus. Cottbus, Germany
PÖFF – Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. Tallinn, Estonia
Les Arcs European Film Festival. Les Arcs, France
Göteborg International Film Festival. Göteborg, Sweden
Fantaspoa. Porto Alegre, Brazil
Glasgow Film Festival. Glasgow, UK
Selected awards and nominations
Locarno Film Festival. Nominated for Golden Leopard
Seeyousound International Music Film Festival. Best International Feature Film
FantasIstanbul. Best International Film
Fantaspoa. Best Production Design (Jaagup Roomet)
Warsaw International Film Festival. Nominated for Free Spirit Award (Rainer Sarnet)
Sitges – International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia. Nominated for Best Motion Picture
FilmFestival Cottbus. Nominated for Best Feature Film
Estonian Film and TV Awards. Best Feature Film; Best Actress (Ester Kuntu); Best Actor (Ursel Tilk); Best Screenplay (Rainer Sarnet); Best Production Design (Jaagup Roomet); Best Editing (Jussi Rautaniemi); Best Composer (Hino Koshiro); Best Make-up Designer (Anu Konze), Best Costume Designer (Jaanus Vahtra); Nominated for Best Cinematography (Mart Taniel), Nominated for Best Director (Rainer Sarnet)
Neitsi Maali – Estonian Film Journalists Association Award. Nominated for Best Film
Estonian Cultural Endowment Awards. Best Feature Film (Rainer Sarnet); Best Actor (Ursel Tilk); Best Production Designer (Jaagup Roomet)
Latvian National Film Awards. Best Costume Design (Jaanus Vahtra, Berta Vilipsone); Best Production Design (Jaagup Roomet, Martins Straupe)
Hellenic Film Academy Awards. Best Special and Visual Effects (Antonis Kotzias); Best Greek Minority Co-Production Feature Film (Amanda Livanou)
