Names Engraved in Marble (2002) User Reviews

A good Estonian movie, must for Estonians, recommended for others

[sycul · 7/10 · 17 January 2006]

The story is set in 1919, just after WWI has ended and the reds took over half of Europe. I wouldn't call them Russians, as you'll find out from the movie, that besides Russians there were Latvians and even Estonians in the red army. Unfortunately history repeats itself, in war it happens that brother fights against brother, or blood against blood.

It's a patriotic movie, of course. Estonians, as many other nations in the world fought for their freedom. What I liked in this movie is that it gave back very well the atmosphere of that time (excellent photography, and CGI perhaps) and also depicted very nicely the Estonian coutryside. Watching this movie I felt the urge to visit this country. Also liked very much that the film didn't want to make heroes. In contrary, it showed the weekness of these young students, the fear they felt being in war, killing other people. They were just victims of the war.

I bet this is one of the highest budgeted Estonian movies. But still very low budgeted comparing to American movies of the same category. So don't expect the same war scenes. However I liked it, as it is.

Only thing I can criticize in this movie is that the story is a bit too simple, too obvious. That's why I rated it 7/10. However it's an outstanding movie.

Story deserved to be told

[armands_skutelis · 8/10 · 4 March 2007]

I was really looking forward to see this movie. When finally I saw it on TV in Latvia I thought that Estonians have really done it well. Of course it isn't masterpiece but history also is not as beautiful as we would want to see it. 5 countries around the Baltic sea gained their independence in those years (Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland)and each deserves to tell their own story to the world. For me it was a beautiful story about young people and the decisions they must make in crucial situations. Unfortunately, they couldn't make the same decisions when they were older and experienced (or maybe they couldn't because of it). For me it was interesting to see the portrait of Latvians in the war against Estonia. As one Finnish guy said he didn't understand why Latvians fought against Estonia. It was because those Latvians weren't supporters of independent Latvia. Latvia's real army wasn't fighting against Estonia. As it is for Finland we Latvians also must say thanks that independent Estonia later helped to fight against both the Soviets and the remains of German army.That in territory of Estonia was formed part of the independent Latvian army. These Latvians showed in this movie were communists who fought to build communism in Latvia. At that time there were 3 different governments in Latvia (1st independent Latvian, 2nd communist government, 3rd German-orientated government) so it is complicated not only for foreigners to understand but for Latvians who don't know history so well too.

It reminds us how important it is to be who we are.

[kjp-8 · 8/10 · 13 January 2003]

The record-making, dazzling and thrilling Estonian blockbuster `Names in Marble' has brought nearly 150,000 people all over the country out of their comfortable homes to see something that takes your breath away.

The story evolves around a group of young schoolboys who decide to alter the course of history once and for all - to fight against the Soviet army and for the freedom of the new Republic of Estonia.

`Names in Marble' opens a doorway to a new dimension of Estonian cinema. Directed by Elmo Nüganen who is famous for his interpretation of many classical plays in several theatres in Estonia, the movie has a unique sense of closeness and significance that is not common for other Estonian movies. Nüganen adds another flavour to the picture by hiring the well-known Russian cameraman Sergei Astakhov to record the key scenes and arrange the almost perfect cinematography of the movie.

Another astonishment that the moviegoers might experience is the great work of some young and promising Estonian actors. The sincerity and clarity of the leading role, played by Priit Võigemast represents the possibilities and potential of Estonian cinema in reaching an international level.

It is unfortunate that the best yet Estonian movie has absolutely has no chance of getting a nomination for the `Best foreign film' Academy award - it lacks a certain multi-cultural perspective.

In the end it brought tears to the eyes, it did matter and it made us sit in the theatre until all the credits were shown and lights came on, reminding us how important it is to be who we are.

The 'One Greatest' Movie of the Estonians

[Shaolin_Apu · 9/10 · 7 June 2005]

Estonians see this film in a little different light than the other people. As a Finn I think Estonians should be proud of this film even if it's not necessarily even a great movie in pure artistic sense. I watched this film with sentiment and that's why I rate it so high. Estonian history concerns us Finns too and we're sorry that you suffered from Russian rule for so long time. We Finns are also happy that you managed to fend off the Red Army in 1918, for their next target would definitely been Finland. The Red Danger was over only in 1920 with the Tarto Treaty, which meant the end of enmities with the Soviet Union. That treaty was signed by both Finns and Estonians and one Finnish General has said that it was only that contract that ended the Finnish Civil War too. He meant that the Estonian war for Freedom was a part of Finnish war for Freedom as well.

I consider 'Nimed Marmortahvlil' as a very interesting movie and I don't think many Finns will disagree with me. The film has been broadcast in Finland twice and I have it on DVD, because it has a special value for me. I confess I might like it less if Peter Franzén had not played in the film. I also admit that the action scenes are not very great: there are over-acting and over-dramatizing but using that ancient light machine-gun in the final battle is interesting. The informal nature of the Estonian army is also notable as they all were just young volunteers without any military training. The action also happens in a minor scale, there is no real epic, and the event frame is somewhat odd to me. I don't figure out what the clock is symbolizing and what are those Latvians doing in Estonia except fighting, of course. Well, I guess the clock symbolizes the battle for Freedom in some sense and the Latvians are fighting for the Communism and not for Latvia. Despite these 'grand mysteries' I find this film very special.

Best Estonian movie yet...

[uplink86 · 27 November 2004]

This movie is totally for people who like foreign movies. And it really is the best movie, shot in Estonia (though Tarkovski's S.T.A.L.K.E.R. was also shot in Estonia) and by Estonians. I only disliked the ending, when the main character turned into a Rambo-like character. That was a shitty idea. A bigger budget would have given the movie something more, though it had a huge budget for an Estonian movie. Computer graphics was so good, that know one knows, there were any, actually they used CGI to hide things in city-scene, they copied some soldiers and they made other changes as well...

And those who don't know about the war in the movies, should know, that there were similar wars in almost every Eastern-Europe countries between 1917-1920, cause Russia was weakened and unstable because of the World War I, and freedom fighters had good chances due that.

7.5/10

Well-made history lesson

[jnk9 · 7/10 · 19 February 2006]

While many of us know the general outlines of World War I and of the fate of the Baltic republics up until their regained independence in the early 1990's, this movie is a valuable addition of flesh and blood to a complicated historic phase: the fight for the Estonian territory. Among the fighting parties: Estonians, "red" Soviet Russians, "white" Russians, Germans, Finns and Latvians. Add to this youthful idealism, a light romantic episode and lots of atmosphere and you will agree that it is well worth its 90 minutes.

The film is especially interesting to anyone with an interest in World War I, Soviet/Russian history or the Baltic region but just as much to anyone interested in more nuanced war/ action films.

2nd best Estonian film

[jannova · 9/10 · 19 November 2002]

I was anxious in seeing this movie, because this is biggest budgeted estonian film and there was a great fuzz about it. Well, the movie was above average.

The acting was good, considering that most of the actors were very young boys, who had just graduated acting school. The estonian commander didnt seem belivible to me, he just didnt look like a leader.

The biggest let down were the war scenes, where the russian soldiers couldnt hit any of the standing estonians and the machine gun fire didnt mowe down enough russians. The "love" scenes were a bit long, considering that the movie was quite short. I havent read the book that this movie was based on, there shouldnt be much differences in the story.

I will give this movie 7/10 points, it is the 2nd best Estonian movie IMO, after "Viimne reliikvia".

A well made film

[prenumerera · 7/10 · 10 October 2005]

This movie is interesting to watch. I haven't seen an Estonian movie before and i was impressed with the people, surroundings, history and language(I haven't heard Estonian before, but it sounds almost like Finnish to me).

The environments are astounding, and the actors are OK, the movie really tries to give a picture in which neither the Soviets nor the Germans should continue to dominate Estonia. Thats why the main actors fight against the Soviet invasion.

Since we get to follow some students and a landowner, we are a little limited to only a few peoples view of the Soviet/independence dilemma, which is understandable, however, it would have been interesting to see these events through the eyes of a poor person.

There are a couple of remarks i would like to make. I don't like that the Estonians that took part on the soviet side (the reds) are in this movie evildoers that kill people on the streets and rape innocent women. Since i have not read independent Estonian history this might be the whole truth, but this movie should at least have given a explanation to "why?" they (all) are so evil to get a better "vote" from me.

I'm not that fond of love stories in war movies, and this movie contains a love story that not should have been there. It's just silly, it gave me nothing i haven't seen 1000 times before.

The fighting and excitement of battle is totally OK, but there is an element of exaggeration, that lowers credibility, but its still high quality.

To sum up, it's a well made war movie, better than most, but Estonian film makers still have to do better to actually give us something we haven't seen in the cinema's yet. 7/10 mostly because of Estonian environment.

Effective propaganda, in the best sense

[scarr-6 · 9/10 · 8 April 2011]

My wife and I saw this at the Toronto Film Festival debut, as a walk-in, knowing nothing about it.

The film deserves wider viewer-ship in North America, for the many reasons given by other reviewers.

The only novel comment I can make is that this is a propaganda film, in the very best sense. 'Propaganda' usually brings to mind more or less crude attempts from totalitarian regimes to manipulate (or ignore) facts in the service of a political agenda. We can (if we wish) admire 'Triumph of the Will' as a masterpiece of effective propaganda: do your feet begin to tap when they sing the Anthem of Nazi Youth? We can also admire 'Guadalcanal Diary' as wartime propaganda that presents the Marine Corps in an ideal light, while for reasons of wartime security the lost Battle of Savo Island is ignored.

'Names in Marble' like the Polish 'Katyn' is in contrast an effort to present historical truth effectively to a new generation that may have forgotten it, if indeed they ever knew it. One of the lingering effects of the 'former Soviet Union' is the re-writing of central and eastern European popular history, to turn nationalist patriots into enemies of the state. (One of the most popular Polish TV series of the 60s presents a Polish tank unit fighting alongside their Soviet brothers, an utter non-event but very useful to the regime).

See the movie.

Great for Estonian history buffs

[gynter · 7/10 · 16 August 2005]

A story of Estonian high school students who volunteer to defend their country from the Bolshevik invasion in 1918. The only reason to give this film 7 stars is the Estonian film industry context. For Estonia, this film is truly great. Not only it covers previously poorly presented (in the visual art) part of this country's history, it also is very well made camera work wise and the action scenes are done properly. But the director perhaps could have swapped some of the pathetic patriotism (obviously borrowed from the book the film is based on) for real-life attitude. I'll never believe that 17-year-old boys will be that desperately willing to sacrifice their lives and virtually act as if they long for the Red Army bullets. Natural human fear of death is what makes any war scene so much more realistic.

One great Estonian movie, perhaps even one and a half

[Jan_ · 5/10 · 3 January 2004]

Ladies and gents, the most overrated Estonian movie of all times. Yes - it is at times warm and touching, it boasts splendid cinematography, it lacks the daft, aggressive jingoism painfully present in most patriotic flicks (read: American ones) and is not exaggerated like the aforementioned usually tend to be.

So "Names In Marble" is not a bad movie per se. Having said that, there are things that add up to a heavy reduction in its overall value.

I personally found it irritating how Elmo Nüganen had chosen to ignore Albert Kivikas' novel and write an insipid and even quite cheesy plot riddled with holes. Nüganen obviously failed to decide whether to make a pompous war epic or a minimal, realistic drama. So he chose both. I don't know what my fellow countrymen sought in the movie; I myself found the overdramatized battle scenes (rip-offs from Saving Private Ryan, mind you) to be painfully out of place. As well as the romantic sub-plot which didn't exist in the novel in the first place. But since action and/or romance are the things that mainly appeal to an average moviegoer, you'd simply _have_ to include both - and ruin excellent script material in the process. Quite sad.

The acting is OK, but just that. No, there is nothing tearjerking in this movie, sorry to say so. Yes, the subject matter is extremely personal to us Estonians, but I found the novel a thousand times more touching and thought-provoking than this "blockbuster". And if you think that this is the very defining moment in Estonian cinematography, think again.

Oh, well. Without further ado: if you're an Estonian or a non-Estonian pathologically fascinated with local culture, and haven't yet seen the movie - go and see it, although be warned: you haven't missed anything. Otherwise do this: look up Olli Saarela's "Rukajärven tie", a splendid recent addition to a fine series of Finnish war dramas ("Talvisota", "Tuntematon sotilas"). Because while "Names in Marble's" only significant value stems from its patriotic sting, "Rukajärven tie" is actually a cinematic achievement in the best sense of the term.

It is what it was

[increator · 8/10 · 21 December 2006]

To rate this movie fairly, you have to know near non-existing Estonian cinematography and how underfunded it is.

This particular movie, built up to pure shock value, accomplishes its mission extremely well. There's no clear story, time-line or explanation to most of things - and that's what the Civil war was - big confusion, fear and terror. The actors, young as they are, play very well, they act just like they're supposed to act - pure, childish and confused. I think that older, professional actors wouldn't portray those characters that well.

Don't expect anything Western here, it's a movie about particular thing and stays in its frames. All Nüganen's attempts to incorporate something Hollywoodish fail miserably here and that's probably only bad thing about this movie - the fact that he sometimes tried.

For an Estonian or maybe even Scandinavian, it's a must-see. For others, clear your mind and open yourself to something different, or you'll be disappointed.

There's nothing much in the movie that you won't see in any averages American war/drama/romance movie

[4rdi · 6/10 · 8 January 2005]

I think it's overrated. I'v seen it and, it has a lot of stupidity in it, may be it's because I'v read the novel what movie was based on as well, I may say that the novel was much better then movie. As it usually does. Another thing about this movie is, it's not quite honest politically. It has this "bad communists" and "good capitalists/nationalists" theme. Cruelty conducted by Estonias and Russian White Card who were the opponents to Soviets are not shown in the movie, even though crimes committed by Soviets are very realistically brought to us. There are some characters (the Finish guy for example) in the movie that are only there because they are suppose to "give credit and honer our allies", these characters have no real roll and they are absolutely unnecessary, but they are there, just show, that during that war, these country(s) and nations helped us in our fight for freedom. In the end, I'd say that the movie would have been much better, if didn't have to count on Estonian government founding, which was giving the money only if the movie is "historically educating". But it's still better then most of the Hollywood war movies. Actors do there job very good. And movie is based on very good novel, which sadly doesn't appear very well because of the "not very bright" scripting.

Terribly Weak

[denis888 · 1/10 · 5 November 2018]

You know, there are those amateur films made on a stringent budget, with very few actors, limited effects and a very naive montage. This is one of them. Made in Estonia, the movie is named Names Carved in Granite, and shows a group of young Eesti volunteering militiamen fighting the Red Army in 1918-1920. Despite being very much un- - meaning, undeveloped, unrealisticm unreal and unripe, the movie is very much so over - - overplayed, over-pathetic. Actors are very mediocre and overdo every step and line. Dialogs are laughable, and the battle scenes are just a merciless bunch of awful mess - in real battle, all those guys would've been shot immediatelly, not like in this tepid movie. It's very green, raw, naive and silly, Shallow attemps to make it a pstriotic call to arms add to general misery.

"nice" touching movie for not too critical viewer

[bigeyesforbeauty · 13 January 2006]

The movie is nice, if you want to give it a credit just because it is one of the rare chances to see Estonian cinema. It is touching and somewhat sentimental, though the director managed to avoid too cheesy holliwoodish scene. The main plus is the touching feeling it evokes when you think about those young lads who got in the civil war and have to fight the outnumbering enemy. There is a love story, beautiful girl, but nothing really happens. There is a token brother-against-brother theme, that is supposed to show the brutal nature of the civil war. There are battle scenes, but the main battle scene against Latvians is too over dramatized and extremely unrealistic. In general, it's OK if you don't start thinking how in reality those battles would be possible. If you start thinking it seems extremely surrealistic and devoid of any resemblance of what the battle would be in the real war. Thus, some 10 young students lying in the half trench seem to stop the whole company of mighty Latvian Reds (those guys hugely contributed to the victory of REds in Russia). The movie ends abruptly, and you have a feeling that something is missing. As for historical part, it's interesting that most Estonian/Finnish spectators immediately see it as us (Estonians) fighting them (Evil Russians). The movie itself doesn't really show much Russians. Most Reds are actually Estonian. Another thing is that the Civil war in Estonia (and Finland) is often presented as Liberation war, while in fact it was a Civil war. Russians played a minor role in both countries. And it was a part of one giant civil war going on in the whole disintegrating Russian empire with Reds fighting Whites. So the words appearing in the beginning of the movie and saying that Soviet Russia wanted to establish itself as a European power (implying that Soviet Russia invaded Estonia) have more to do with current Estonian political situation than with the history.

About film

[kriitik · 10/10 · 29 August 2003]

This film is the best Estonian movie I have ever seen. I watched it @ cinema... It made me feel that I am Estonian, cause people have fought for their freedom... Fight for Freedom!!!

Not the best movie but a good one.

[sandervosu · 10/10 · 12 January 2022]

For 2002 and for Estonia at that time this movie was great and enjoyable. I've seen it many times and will watch it again. But as for the history part of view it ain't the best ofcourse but it's accurate enough since the budget was small but still went a little too much (19mil EEK or 1.2mil EUR)

The best movie ever

[bsdoll · 9 December 2002]

This is the best movie I have ever seen. It's full of action and romance. It's not a bloody war movie, it has got style. The best character is Alo Kõrve's Käsper, because he's the bravest. Actually, there isn't a bad character/actor/actress in this movie. They all have their little stories that doesn't always end happily. If you are tired of all those Hollywood horrible war movies, watch this one and you will see that there are good war movies.

10 out of 10 points.

Cool

[Elena_Erro · 3 May 2004]

At the beginning, when boys are in the classroom, discussing the war (is it right or not, should they join or not, on who`s side to go), one of the boys writes down the names who are in the classroom. During war several of the boys die, Ahas (Võigemast) escapes in lucky way: as he changes his coat on his girlfriend`s fathers coat, he goes to camp and the Germans take him for Lithuanian as he speaks proper russian.

When the war ends, one schoolboy enters the classroom and the names written at the classboard are still there, as no-one ever erased them, (I think the boys left straight in the war without having a lesson)...