Fencer
An affecting portrait of a decent man who risks his lifeto uphold a bond of trust with his students.
-- Marilyn Ferdinand, Chicago Reader
The Fencer
A young man, Endel Nelis, arrives in Haapsalu, Estonia, in the early 1950s having left Leningrad to escape the secret police. He finds work as a teacher and founds a sports club for his students. Endel becomes a father figure to his them and starts teaching them his great passion, fencing, which causes a conflict with the school’s principal. Envious, the principal starts investigating Endel’s background.
Endel learns to love the children and looks after them; most are orphans as a result of the Russian occupation. Fencing becomes a form of self-expression for the children and Endel becomes a role model. The children want to participate in a national fencing tournament in Leningrad, and Endel must make a choice: risk everything to take the children to Leningrad or put his safety first and disappoint them.
“Suffused with gorgeous cinematography, this sharp-sweet drama is a pleasure to watch.” – Kate Muir, The Times of London
“Well-acted, smoothly crafted.” – Justin Chang, Variety
Endel learns to love the children and looks after them; most are orphans as a result of the Russian occupation. Fencing becomes a form of self-expression for the children and Endel becomes a role model. The children want to participate in a national fencing tournament in Leningrad, and Endel must make a choice: risk everything to take the children to Leningrad or put his safety first and disappoint them.
“Suffused with gorgeous cinematography, this sharp-sweet drama is a pleasure to watch.” – Kate Muir, The Times of London
“Well-acted, smoothly crafted.” – Justin Chang, Variety
Genre
Drama,
History,
Sport
Runtime
99
Language
Estonian,
Russian,
Armenian
Director
Klaus Härö
Cast
Ursula Ratasepp,
Märt Avandi
Awards:
Nominee, Best Foreign Language Film, Golden Globes
FEATURED REVIEW
Joe Bendel, Epoch Times
Throughout the film, Härö vividly captures a sense of the late Stalinist-era paranoia, as well as the drabness of Soviet life in general. It is also engaging on a human level. These are reserved people, but when they make a connection, it is meaningful.
Played at
Royal 8.18.17 - 8.31.17
Playhouse 7 8.18.17 - 8.24.17
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