Film Snail

The Fencer
The Fencer

7.0

The Fencer

NR·2015·90m

Summary

Fleeing from the Russian secret police, a young Estonian fencer is forced to return to his homeland, where he becomes a physical education teacher at a local school. The past however catches up and puts him in front of a difficult choice.

Cast

Märt Avandi

Märt Avandi

Endel

Ursula Ratasepp

Ursula Ratasepp

Kadri

Hendrik Toompere Jr.

Hendrik Toompere Jr.

Principal

Liisa Koppel

Liisa Koppel

Marta

Joonas Koff

Joonas Koff

Jaan

Egert Kadastu

Egert Kadastu

Toomas

Ann-Lisett Rebane

Ann-Lisett Rebane

Lea

Elbe Reiter

Elbe Reiter

Tiiu

Jaak Prints

Jaak Prints

Principal's Assistant

Kirill Käro

Kirill Käro

Aleksey

Lembit Ulfsak

Lembit Ulfsak

Jaan's Grandfather

Leida Rammo

Leida Rammo

Dormitory Receptionist

Raimo Pass

Raimo Pass

Officer

Erkki Tikan

Erkki Tikan

Officer

Maria Avdjuško

Maria Avdjuško

Official in Leningrad

Alina Karmazina

Alina Karmazina

Armenian Coach

Sergei Tšerkassov

Sergei Tšerkassov

Announcer in Leningrad

Aleksandr Okunev

Aleksandr Okunev

Secret Police Chief

Piret Kalda

Piret Kalda

Jaan's Mother

Kaie Mihkelson

Kaie Mihkelson

Post Office Clerk

Mimosa Wagner

Girl at the Post Office

Mona Wagner

Girl at the Post Office

Tõnu Oja

Tõnu Oja

Parent at the School Meeting

Anu Lamp

Anu Lamp

Parent at the School Meeting

Maria Klenskaja

Maria Klenskaja

Teacher

Andres Lepik

Andres Lepik

Teacher

Svetlana Dorošenko

Svetlana Dorošenko

Sales Lady

Maie Ramjalg

Sales Lady

Mikhail Paschuck

Moscow Fencer

Alla Milovidova

Moscow Coach

Svetlana Tširkova-Lozovaja

Main Referee

Jevgeni Karavajev

Main Referee

Boris Joffe

Main Referee

Ingmar Germ

Fencing Club Member

Romel Hendrik Rautam

Fencing Club Member

Laura Huul

Fencing Club Member

Hanna Pähn

Fencing Club Member

Darja Zabronok

Fencing Club Member

Krettel Maide

Fencing Club Member

Ingrika Tuulik

Fencing Club Member

Karlote Karm

Fencing Club Member

Svetlana Trynova

Fencing Club Member

Anneli Proosväli

Fencing Club Member

Kaspar Tönisson

Fencing Club Member

Aleksander Luka

Fencing Club Member

Tauno Runtal

Fencing Club Member

Marvel Leesment

Fencing Club Member

Rihard-Reno Germ

Fencing Club Member

Merle Talvik

Merle Talvik

Parent at the School Meeting

Paul Laasik

Paul Laasik

Parent at the School Meeting

Tatjana Manevskaja

Tatjana Manevskaja

Parent at the School Meeting

Ahti Puudersell

Ahti Puudersell

Parent at the School Meeting

Carmen Mikiver

Carmen Mikiver

Parent at the School Meeting

Helle Kuningas

Helle Kuningas

Parent at the School Meeting

Kaili Närep

Kaili Närep

Parent at the School Meeting

Aino Joa

Parent at the School Meeting

Jaak Känd

Parent at the School Meeting

Merike Püüding

Parent at the School Meeting

Sirje Päästel

Parent at the School Meeting

Aime Nikopensius

Parent at the School Meeting

Liivi Prints

Parent at the School Meeting

Uudo Laane

Parent at the School Meeting

Saima Jakobson

Parent at the School Meeting

Annika Kodasm

Parent at the School Meeting

Rain Simmul

Rain Simmul

(uncredited)

Crew

Director

Klaus Härö

Writer

Anna Heinämaa

Reviews

Rangan

Rangan

April 4, 2016

8

> Looking for a new start while the past is on the tail.

The 2016's Golden Globe nominee and also Finland's submission for the Oscars in the same year, but failed to get into the final five. Produced by the Baltic nations that set in when Estonia was a part of the USSR in the early 50s. It chronicles the story of Endel Nelis, a man who's on the run arrives in a small town called Haapsalu to teach the school children sports.

As his life is in danger, he intends to keep a low profile for a while. But seems everything is turning around him against him when he decides to teach his students fencing. It brings a large attention to the surroundings. Then comes a time where he must confront what he's hiding from which brings an end to the narration with little extended end part that reveals further details about the later event.

> "It's good to have them focus on something, keep them occupied. It takes their mind off things."

This is a very short story, but somehow the movie managed to run for the 90 minutes with a good pace. It did not cover the entire life story of Endel Nelis, but a small slice. So you definitely feel desperate to know about his past, but this film does not compromise on that. It has a great background score, and overall it is a very inspiring movie.

The actors were so simple, but very good in their parts. Other than the lead character Endel, the two kids Marta and Jaan were excellent. The romance was as its sub-plot, but the theme was sport so all the concentration on the fencing and nothing else. In a couple of sections it feels so cliche, but since it was based on the real, there's nothing to do about it than accepting it.

Fencing is not a popular sport in the world, so it is good to see a movie about it, but sadly it was not internationally well recognised. Like I said earlier the story was quite small, so I can't describe it in a large scale. I think I said everything I wanted to. In its limitedness the movie was pretty impressive. Not everyone who saw it going to suggest it for you, but it is worth a try.

7½/10

Media

Status:

Released

Original Language:

Estonian

Budget:

$2,250,000.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Keywords

sports
fencing