Completed - ESTONIAN - Epic, True Story, Drama - 98 minutes
In the midst of Stalinist tyranny, six-year-old Leelo's mother is sent to a prison camp. Haunted by her mother's last words telling her to be a good kid, Leelo vows to be on her best behavior in the confusing grown-up world in the hope that it will bring her mother back.
Year of production : 2018 Director(s) : Moonika SIIMETS Writer(s) : Moonika SIIMETS Cast : Helena Maria REISNER, Tambet TUISK, Yulia AUG Producer(s) : Riina SILDOS (AMRION OÜ)
It is 1950 in the Soviet Estonia and the Stalinist terror machine works at full steam – 6-year-old Leelo’s school principal mother is arrested before her very eyes. “If you’re a good kid, I’ll be back soon,” are her mother’s last words as she is taken away at gunpoint.So Leelo is on her very best behaviour, but yet her mother does not return. A fear creeps into the child’s soul that it is her fault her mother was taken. The confusion only grows as “good” and “bad” no longer seem to hold any meaning in these troubled times. Why is the Estonian flag suddenly forbidden? Who is the people’s enemy and why is the scary NKVD lurking around their home? Is it an honour or a shame to be a pioneer?In this odd two-faced world, Leelo tries her best to be good, but is instead embroiled in one scrape after another and becomes ever more confused as to what it even means to be a good kid.
Country(ies) : ESTONIA
Busan IFF 2018 - Flash Forward (BNK Busan Bank Award)