1944 (2015)

In 1944 Estonia, a fratricide war ensues when Estonians of the retreating German forces fight against Estonians conscripted into the advancing Soviet Red Army.

Director:

Elmo Nüganen

Writer:

Leo Kunnas

Stars:

Kaspar Velberg, Kristjan Üksküla, Maiken Pius

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kaspar Velberg	...	Karl Tammik
Kristjan Üksküla	...	Jüri Jõgi
Maiken Pius	...	Aino Tammik (as Maiken Schmidt)
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:

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

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Taglines:

The first casualty of war is truth.

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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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

Kreml: Why did you let them go? Who gave the order to cease fire?
Kapten Evald Viires: I did.
Kreml: Captain Viires, all fascists must be destroyed.
Kapten Evald Viires: I don't have time to chase along the forest every little boy who is shooting us.
Kreml: They were not little boys, they were real fascists! Captain Viires, I will write a report about you!
Kapten Evald Viires: Comrade Stalin personally gave the order to liberate the capital of Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, Tallinn, for the 22nd of September. I don't intend to go under court martial, maybe you do.
Kreml: We will see ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in La noche de...: La noche de... 1944 (2019)

User Reviews

An Estonian Band(s) of Brothers.

To be honest I was expecting a low budget bodged effort with lousy period detail and an awful screenplay. In fact it frankly puts most Hollywood and UK efforts to shame. The uniforms, T 34's are really well done and the combat looks authentic, reminiscent perhaps of Cross of Iron. 1944 highlights the sheer randomness of war both in terms of which side you would be pushed into fighting for and graphically who makes it through..... I feel it emphasises loyalty to the platoon, rather than any ideal and how similar one infantry man is to another. Themes of guilt run through story no doubt echoing Estonia's own history in this period, with no options to offer between the two evils, the men could be conscripted into either side. The film pulls off a difficult task in showing realism, brutality and forgiveness within one of the most unforgiving conflicts in history, whilst avoiding the routine white hats black hats seen in most war movies.

Details

Country:

Estonia Finland

Language:

Estonian Russian German

Release Date:

4 November 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

1944

Filming Locations:

Sinimäed Hills, Narva-Jõesuu municipality, Ida-Viru County, Estonia

Box Office

Budget:

EUR1,620,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$109,768

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