Lübeck, Oct. 9, 2018. The Nordische Filmtage Lübeck will usher in its 60th year with the German premiere of the Estonian film “The Little Comrade” (Seltsimees laps) by Moonika Siimets on October 30, 2018 at 7:30 pm.This marks the first time in the history of the renowned festival that the opening night film will be from a Baltic State. In her first narrative film, director Moonika Siimets tells the story of six-year-old Leelo, living in Estonia in the 1950s. After her mother is taken away, the young girl tries to figure out the difference between good and evil amid the constraints of the Stalinist regime.
In addition to director Moonika Siimets, the NFL will welcome several of the film’s actors, producer Riina Sildos, and Leelo Tungal herself, who wrote the books on which the film is based.
“The Nordische Filmtage Lübeck was the first festival that showcased Baltic films as early as 1989, before the Baltic States had attained independence. For 30 years, those films have helped shape the festival and we are extremely happy that we can give special expression to that partnership and connectivity by opening the festival with a film from one of the Baltic states for the first time. In this, the centenary of their founding, films from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania play a particularly prominent role at the Nordische Filmtage Lübeck. Numerous fascinating films will be presented in every section of the festival”, says Linde Fröhlich, artistic director of the Nordic Film Days Lübeck.
“The Little Comrade” is based on the autobiographical novels of prize-winning Estonian writer and poet Leelo Tungal, “Comrade Kid and the Grown-Ups” (2008), and “Velvet and Sawdust” (2009). Her children's book “Ludwig the Snowman’s Lucky Day” was published in German in 2017.
The film was produced by Riina Sildos with the Estonian production company Amrion Ltd., which she founded. World-wide distribution is being handled by Eyewell in Sweden. “The Little Comrade” was made as part of the EV100 programme, dedicated to the centenary of the founding of the Estonian republic.
A summary of the film: Estonia in 1950 is in the grip of Stalin’s terror regime. “If you’re a good child, I’ll be back soon”, says Leelo’s mother as she is hauled off to a Siberian gulag. Her young daughter takes that mission to heart, impossible as it may be to fulfil. But not matter what she does, her mother doesn’t return. She wonders if she is responsible for her mother’s disappearance. Little by little, Leelo becomes more confused about what really constitutes good and evil in the world. She needs to find answers to a bunch of questions all by herself, and learn to find her way in the world of the Stalinist regime. The film depicts a young girl’s attempts to stay true to herself despite the tragi-comic events in her homeland.
The 60th Nordic Film Days, presented by the Hanseatic city of Lübeck, will be held from October 30 to November 4, 2018. There will be a press conference on October 10, 2018 to announce the selected films, TV series, and side-bar events, as well as festival guests. The complete programme will be available online beginning Oct. 20, 2018. Advance ticket sales begin on October 27, 2018 at 3:00 pm at the CineStar Filmpalast Stadthalle, Lübeck and online.
All details and information about the festival can be found online at www.nordische-filmtage.de. News is also available on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Press contact:
Silke Lehmann, Charlotte Roggenbuck, Elisabeth Wrage, Franziscca Reppmann
Press and publicity department
Nordische Filmtage Lübeck
Schildstr. 12, 23539 Lübeck
Tel: +49 451-122-1455
presse@nordische-filmtage.de
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