November

The film is set in a pagan Estonian village where people are pestered by werewolves, plagues and ghosts. The villagers’ biggest challenge is to survive the frosty and dark winter, so nothing is taboo for them. The protagonist, Liina, is a young girl working on a farm, hopelessly and desperately in love with Hans, a village boy. The longing makes her turn into a werewolf and plunge into a freezing pond.

The film is based on a best-selling Estonian novel Rehepapp by Andrus Kivirähk. It combines Estonian pagan mythology with European Christian mythology. Both are looking for a miracle, an ancient power thanks to which a human has a soul. This is a film about souls, indeed: about a craving a soul, about selling it and life without it.

Awards

Tribeca Film Festival 2017: Best Cinematography award in the International Narrative Competition for Mart Taniel

Rainer Sarnet

Film and theatre director, film critic, comic book author. Born 1969 in Rakvere, Estonia. In 2007 he made his feature-length debut Where Souls Go. His next film, The Idiot, from 2011, was inspired by the novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It had its world premiere at Busan IFF and won Best Cinematography at Tallin Black Nights Film Festival 2011.

Selected films

1998: Werefoxes and Undead

2007: Where Souls Go

2011: The Idiot

written by Rainer Sarnet
based on the novel by Andrusa Kivirähka
director of photography Mart Taniel
music Jacaszek
production design Jaagup Roomet, Matis Mäesalu
make-up Anu Konze
costume design Jaanus Vahtra
make-up Anu Konze
sound Marco Vermaas
edited by Jarosław Kamiński
cast Rea Lest, Jörgen Liik, Dieter Laser, Katariina Unt, Taavi Eelmaa, Arvo Kukumägi, Heino Kalm, Meelis Rämmeld
production Homeless Bob Production OÜ
producer Katrin Kissa
co-produced by PRPL B.V., Opus Film
co-producers Ellen Havenith, Łukasz Dzięcioł
production managers Maario Masing, Lili Pilt, Andres Arro, Magdalena Malisz
executive producer Katrin Kissa, Ellen Havenith, Łukasz Dzięcioł