Naerata ometi / Well, Come On, Smile / Spiele für Schulkinder

Mari’s mother has died and her father is an alcoholic, so she is sent to a reform school, a repository for orphans and other children who’ve been shunted off. Mari has trouble getting used to the harsh conditions and brutal games. After a failed attempt to flee the home, Tauri, the son of an influential man, offers to protect her. But she is attracted to Robi, an aggressive young man, turning her into a target for a rival … This film by Leida Laius, the grande dame of Estonian cinema, revealed a parallel universe of Estonia’s youth, standing apart from state formalities, with its own rules and jargon. Shot at original locations, largely with hand-held cameras and amateur actors, it has a strong documentary feel. Cinematographer and co-director Arvo Iho said, “we used music by Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin to create the right rhythm and mood on set. They were as honest and passionate as the film that we made”.