Somnambuul (2003)

Autumn 1944, Estonia. Tens of thousands of people leave their homeland in fear of approaching frontline. Some seashore villages remain completely empty. A young woman with huge grey eyes ... See full summary »

Director:

Sulev Keedus

Writers:

Sulev Keedus, Madis Kõiv

Stars:

Katariina Unt, Evald Aavik, Ivo Uukkivi

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview:
Katariina Unt	...	Eetla (as Katariina Lauk-Tamm)
Evald Aavik	...	Gottfrid
Ivo Uukkivi	...	Kasper
Jan Uuspõld	...	Ivanes

Storyline

Autumn 1944, Estonia. Tens of thousands of people leave their homeland in fear of approaching frontline. Some seashore villages remain completely empty. A young woman with huge grey eyes gets off the boat. Eetla leaves the last boat, thus giving up her last chance to escape. Defying the cold wind and rain of September, she returns to the lighthouse which is unexpected to her father Gottfrid, the lighthouse keeper, and herself. Eetla's return becomes her self-encounter and self-recognition. Why is Eetla terrified of reality? For fear of tomorrow, anxiety for the unpredictable tomorrow. Eetla seeks refuge in her dreams, either dreamt or not dreamt ones, recounting them to her father or to a young doctor, a war refugee Kasper, or herself. It does not matter to whom. Reciting keeps alive the moment in between what has passed and what will come, in between yesterday and nescience. Like a prayer driven by fear to lose her balance. The balance between being awake and asleep. This fear to ...

---

Taglines:

Alasti hing. Hullumeelne põgenemine. See on tema saatus.

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Official Sites:

F-Seitse [ee]

Country:

Estonia Finland

Language:

Estonian Russian

Release Date:

18 September 2003 (Estonia)

Also Known As:

Somnambulance

Filming Locations:

Harilaid, Saaremaa, Estonia

Company Credits

Production Co:

F-Seitse, Kinotar

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

a fascinating meditation on the Russian invasion of Estonia

Sulev Keedus has directed a beautiful, fascinating meditation on the violence of the Russian incursions into Estonia in the 20th century. He tells the story through three principals, living on the coastline of Estonia. The interactions of these 3 are metaphoric commentaries on the political and social struggles between Russia and Estonia.

The cinematography is very impressive. Some of the shots of 3 three main actors in half light are very haunting.

The lighthouse on the coast is hardly a safeguard against anything and its fate, which concludes the film, will startle and shock most viewers, especially given the now famous images of 9/11/2001.

R L Widmann