Estonia Now: November

A film by Rainer Sarnet ( 1hr55m / black & white / Estonia, The Netherlands, Poland / 2017 )

In a pagan Estonian village, werewolves, the plague, and spirits roam. The villagers’ main problem is how to survive the cold, dark winter. To that end, nothing is taboo. People steal from each other and from their German manor lords, and are willing to give away their souls to thieving creatures made of wood and metal. Young farm girl Liina is hopelessly in love with Hans, a farmhand, whose heart she loses to the daughter of the German manor lord. In order to regain his love, Liina turns to any means necessary, even if that means tapping into the black magic that is circling around the village. Estonian pagan legends and Christian mythologies come to a spell-binding intersection in Rainer Sarnet’s third feature film: a bold, twisted fairy tale.

Ages 15+

Part of Estonia Now, a city-wide festival of visual art, film, contemporary dance and performance. Find out more at estonianow.org. 

“Rainer Sarnet's adaptation of an Estonian best-seller is full of folk-tale magic and beautiful B&W photography.”- Hollywoodreporter.com