1944 (2015)

In "1944" Director Elmo Nüganen portrays the real events on the Eastern Front in Estonia in 1944, from the Battle Of Tannenburg Line, the July fighting on the Sinimäed Hills, until November... See full summary »

Director:

Elmo Nüganen

Writer:

Leo Kunnas

Stars:

Kaspar Velberg, Kristjan Üksküla, Maiken Schmidt

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kaspar Velberg	...	Karl Tammik
Kristjan Üksküla	...	Jüri Jõgi
Maiken Schmidt	...	Aino Tammik
Gert Raudsep	...	Ants 'Saareste'
Hendrik Toompere Jr. Jr.	...	Kristjan 'Põder' (as Hendrik Toompere Jr.)
Karl-Andreas Kalmet	...	Vladimir 'Kamenski'
Henrik Kalmet	...	Voldemar 'Piir'
Pääru Oja	...	Sanitar Elmar 'Säinas'
Priit Strandberg	...	Lembit 'Raadik'
Priit Pius	...	Vennad Käärid
Märt Pius	...	Vennad Käärid
Kristo Viiding	...	Leonhard 'Talu'
Jaak Prints	...	Autojuht Richard Pastak
Magnús Mariuson	...	'Taanlane Carl', Carl Madsen
Mait Malmsten	...	Omavalitsuse tegelane

Storyline

In "1944" Director Elmo Nüganen portrays the real events on the Eastern Front in Estonia in 1944, from the Battle Of Tannenburg Line, the July fighting on the Sinimäed Hills, until November, when the Sorve peninsula was already conquered by the Soviet Army. The war is shown through the eyes of participants in the events on both warring sides - the Estonians who fought on the side of the German Army in the 20th Estonian division Waffen-SS, and as part of the 8th Estonian Rifle Corps of the Soviet Army. For residents of Estonia it was a war in which everyone makes their own choices. It is with such hard choices facing the main characters of the film - the soldiers of the opposing sides Carl Tammik and Urey Jogi - as well as their comrades, relatives, friends and even strangers.

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Plot Keywords:

dead soldier | year 1944 | shot | soviet red army | retreat | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Details

Country:

Estonia Finland

Language:

Estonian Russian German

Release Date:

4 November 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

1944: Forced to Fight

Box Office

Budget:

€1,620,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Matila Röhr Productions (MRP),Taska Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

It was selected as the Estonian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards but it was not nominated.

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Quotes

Voldemar 'Piir': [twin brothers Käär have arrived at platoon as supplement] Who are you?
Vennad Käärid: [simultaneously] SS-grenader Käär!
Voldemar 'Piir': Supplement men?
Vennad Käärid: [simultaneously] Yes, sir!
Voldemar 'Piir': Ten men were promised, two were sent, they are also like one.
Karl Tammik: What are your names?
[brothers introduce themselves]
Voldemar 'Piir': Relatives?
Vennad Käärid: [simultaneously] Brothers.
Voldemar 'Piir': I can see that, a bit similar.

User Reviews

One of the most impressive WW2 movies from this decade.

A WW2 movie coming from Estonia. A part in that war many westerners forget about and even more so those not 'into' world war history.

Originally Estonia declared neutrality in the war but was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940. Mass political arrests,deportations, and executions followed. Many Estonians were force into the Red army. During the German Operation Barbarossa in 1941 Estonia was occupied by Germany. As a result many Estonians were conscripted to the Nazi German forces and also many became SS Volunteers, recognizable by the 'Blue, Black & White' Estonian flag on the sleeve of their SS uniform and Divisional insignia on their collars.

This movie focuses on fighting in the year 1944. The Red Army advanced back into Estonia. Estonians are fighting on both sides, inevitably opposing each other. Without revealing too much about the plot, we all know how WW2 ended. Estonia was occupied by the Soviets and became part of the USSR until August 20, 1991.

As an anti-war movie this movie succeeds in a marvelous way. It's insane how another man's war can bring such confusion and destruction to a small country like Estonia. Death can come any moment, but so can luck. No main character in the movie can be considered all good or all bad in that childish Disney kind of way.

The pace of the movie is solid and speeds up where it is needed and takes time to dive deeper into the developing storyline(s) and characters of the movie. For those interested in larger battle scenes, the Battle of Tannenberg Line is impressive!

For those that are fed up by American or Russian made movies about world war 2 making their side look like holier-than-thou victorious heroes, here's a real bleak and more realistic view on the war without that tedious black&white lens the big ColdWar contenders tend to put over it.