FRESH BLOOD: With the Best Intentions 2020
Five fresh short films on the theme "With the best intentions" from even fresher Estonian directors.
Five fresh short films on the theme "With the best intentions" from even fresher Estonian directors.
As a young Soviet student in 1978, Ieva could not have predicted that a holiday visit to her father, Imants Lesinskis, then working in the Soviet mission at the United Nations in New York City, would irreversibly split her life in two. Entangled in a dark spy game, Ieva is forced to leave her former life behind, never to see her mother or her homeland of Latvia again. Pulling back the curtain on the shady behind-the-scenes world of the Cold War, this film tells a daughter's dramatic story of her double-agent father, exploring their relationship against the backdrop of events which have their roots over four decades ago. In order to find herself and understand the game she was part of, Ieva sets out on a journey to the past, confronting family secrets, lies and betrayal.
In the last days of August 1941, one of the greatest maritime disasters in history took place off the northern coast of Estonia. Fleeing the invading Germans, the Soviet authorities hastily and panickedly carried out the evacuation of Tallinn. The remnants of the Red Army units, fleeing Red Army personnel, as well as mobilized Estonians and civilians were placed on more than two hundred ships, either voluntarily or forcibly. In total, over 30,000 people. The line of ships headed for Kronstadt and Leningrad, but they ran into a trap set by the German and Finnish navies near the Juminda Peninsula. 60 ships sank in mine explosions, torpedoes and aircraft bombs, and an estimated 15,000 people died, including thousands of Estonians. The film reveals how the terrible catastrophe of Juminda has been depicted, silenced, minimized or heroized in later historical accounts.
Merike is the trainer and soul of Tobra stables. She was born with one hand, but this is only part of the external description, insignificant to her. As a coach, Merike's first goal is to teach children humanity and caring.
12-year-old Shahad is studying at Tartu Descartes School. The film looks at the girl's everyday life, which is not quite everyday. The Shahadi family fled Syria six years ago. Four years ago, they arrived here, in their new home. How are they?