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The Fencer

Original title: Miekkailija
  • 20152015
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
4.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Miekkailija (2015)
A haunted young man arrives in an Estonian town that has been under harsh Russian Communist rule since the end of World War II. Taking a job as sports instructor at the local school, he organizes a wildly successful fencing club -- affecting the lives of the local children in profound and moving ways. At the climactic competition with Russian foes, his past catches up with him.
Play trailer1:44
1 Video
17 Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • History

Fleeing from the Russian secret police, a young Estonian fencer is forced to return to his homeland, where he becomes a physical education teacher at a local school. The past however catches... Read allFleeing from the Russian secret police, a young Estonian fencer is forced to return to his homeland, where he becomes a physical education teacher at a local school. The past however catches up and puts him in front of a difficult choice.Fleeing from the Russian secret police, a young Estonian fencer is forced to return to his homeland, where he becomes a physical education teacher at a local school. The past however catches up and puts him in front of a difficult choice.

IMDb RATING
7.1/10
4.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Klaus Härö
  • Writer
    • Anna Heinämaa
  • Stars
    • Märt Avandi
    • Ursula Ratasepp
    • Hendrik Toompere Sr.
Top credits
  • Director
    • Klaus Härö
  • Writer
    • Anna Heinämaa
  • Stars
    • Märt Avandi
    • Ursula Ratasepp
    • Hendrik Toompere Sr.
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 15User reviews
    • 62Critic reviews
    • 60Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 5 nominations

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:44
    Official Trailer

    Photos17

    Märt Avandi in Miekkailija (2015)
    Märt Avandi in Miekkailija (2015)
    Liisa Koppel in Miekkailija (2015)
    Klaus Härö and Liisa Koppel in Miekkailija (2015)
    Miekkailija (2015)
    Miekkailija (2015)
    Märt Avandi and Liisa Koppel in Miekkailija (2015)
    Märt Avandi, Ursula Ratasepp, and Liisa Koppel in Miekkailija (2015)
    Märt Avandi, Ursula Ratasepp, and Liisa Koppel in Miekkailija (2015)
    Liisa Koppel in Miekkailija (2015)
    Märt Avandi, Ursula Ratasepp, and Liisa Koppel in Miekkailija (2015)
    Elisabeth Endriss and Klaus Härö at an event for Miekkailija (2015)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Märt Avandi
    Märt Avandi
    • Endel Nelisas Endel Nelis
    Ursula Ratasepp
    • Kadrias Kadri
    Hendrik Toompere Sr.
    • Principalas Principal
    Liisa Koppel
    Liisa Koppel
    • Martaas Marta
    Joonas Koff
    • Jaanas Jaan
    Egert Kadastu
    • Toomasas Toomas
    Ann-Lisett Rebane
    • Leaas Lea
    Elbe Reiter
    • Tiiuas Tiiu
    Jaak Prints
    • Principal's assistantas Principal's assistant
    Kirill Käro
    Kirill Käro
    • Alekseias Aleksei
    Lembit Ulfsak
    Lembit Ulfsak
    • Jaan's grandfatheras Jaan's grandfather
    Leida Rammo
    • Boarding house's hostessas Boarding house's hostess
    Raimo Pass
    • Officeras Officer
    Erkki Tikkan
    • Officeras Officer
    Maria Avdjushko
    • Clerk in Leningradas Clerk in Leningrad
    Alina Karmazina
    • Armenian traineras Armenian trainer
    Sergei Tserkassov
    • Commentator in Leningradas Commentator in Leningrad
    Aleksander Okunev
    • MGB officeras MGB officer
    • Director
      • Klaus Härö
    • Writer
      • Anna Heinämaa
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Fleeing from the Russian secret police because of his controversial past, a young Estonian fencer named Endel is forced to return to his homeland, where he begins to train a group of young children in the art of fencing. The past however catches up with him and Endel has to choose between letting his students down or putting his life in danger. The movie is partially based on the real life story of an Estonian fencer Endel Nelis (1925-1993). —Mattias Aabmets
    • soviet union
    • fencing instructor
    • soviet estonia
    • year 1953
    • reference to josef stalin
    • 27 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • A new beginning. A mission. A shadow from the past. Destiny. Love.
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • History
      • Sport
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Finnish candidate for the best foreign language film in 2016 Academy Awards.
    • Goofs
      Nelis was not arrested after the fencing tournament in Leningrad.
    • Connections
      Featured in 73rd Golden Globe Awards (2016)

    User reviews15

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Beautiful film about small people under the Soviet rule.
    A good film about seldom-seen topic. Living was difficult and sometimes dangerous under the Soviet rule in Estonia straight after WW II and Klaus Härö's film tells story about that. It has been built around true story about a teacher which teaches his pupils to fence.

    Problem on this film was that I knew too much about the story before seeing it. So it didn't give many surprises.

    Not much to complain about directing, acting or anything else. Maybe the story needed something more to be more interesting but the film depends on true story so it could have been wrong to make up something.

    Best thing about this film is that there is used both languages Estonian and Russian. So the characters use the right languages. It is of course subtitled.
    helpful•39
    6
    • sakari-lonn
    • Apr 4, 2015

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 21, 2017 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Finland
      • Estonia
      • Germany
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • Estonian
      • Russian
      • Armenian
    • Also known as
      • El esgrimista
    • Filming locations
      • Pärnu, Estonia
    • Production companies
      • Making Movies Oy
      • Allfilm
      • Kick Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • €1,605,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $95,952
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,572
      • Jul 23, 2017
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,289,014
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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