The Fencer is a truimph. Saw it yesterday. The performances are true. It makes you imagine how horrifying it would have been in 1953 to have Soviet secret police monitor your activities. It has tension, a speck of romance, good youthful performances, historical fact, a nice unknown cast (not Brad Pitt reheated again and again!), simple plot. Flawless in many ways. The kids were a tad Sound of Music perfect, but I guess they are similar types. Jaan's old grandfather is good. This is about Estonian people in the dying days of Stalin living with the fear of the State looking over their shoulder. Look at how timid initially the folks of the village are in the school council meeting.
The Fencer is a truimph. Saw it yesterday. The performances are true. It makes you imagine how horrifying it would have been in 1953 to have Soviet secret police monitor your activities. It has tension, a speck of romance, good youthful performances, historical fact, a nice unknown cast (not Brad Pitt reheated again and again!), simple plot. Flawless in many ways. The kids were a tad Sound of Music perfect, but I guess they are similar types. Jaan's old grandfather is good. This is about Estonian people in the dying days of Stalin living with the fear of the State looking over their shoulder. Look at how timid initially the folks of the village are in the school council meeting.