Drama

Romance

Firebird

The Factory

No Reservations Entertainment

Firebird Production

Estonian Film Institute

Estonia

United Kingdom

United States of America

Eesti

English

Pусский

Tom Prior

Oleg Zagorodnii

Diana Pozharskaya

Jake Henderson

Margus Prangel

Nicholas Woodeson

Ester Kuntu

Kaspar Velberg

Sergei Lavrentyev

Rasmus Kaljujärv

Lauri Mäesepp

Karl-Andreas Kalmet

Vladimir Nadein

Markus Luik

Anatoli Tafitšuk

Nils Mattias Steinberg

Sten Karpov

Carmen Mikiver

Mihkel Kabel

Ilja Toome

Kuldar Kristjan Kurg

Henessi Schmidt

Kaie Kõrb

Imre Sooäär

Deni Yarovskiy

Markus Habakukk

Jaanika Arum

Jonathan Tupay

Eduard Toman

Catherine Charlton

Britta Soll

Luule Komissarov

Timur Ilikajev

Eili Sild

Mari Lill

Anne Paluver

Gerda Johnson

Aavo Pekri

Monika Jallajas

Vadim Sehvatov

Karl Markus Antson

Deniss Bogosjan

Artur Tjulenev

Romek Uibopuu

Gregory Kibus

Marge Sillaste

Thomas Edur

Alena Shkatula

Anatoli Arhangelski

Jevgeni Grib

Inessa Glazõrina

Andrea Fabbri

Marcus Nilson

Anna Roberta Lahesoo

Christina Krigolson

Kersti Kuuse

Karina Laura Leškin

Ksenja Seletskaja

Maia Shutova

Benjamin Gareth Edward Thomas

Konstantin Belokhvostik

Nikolaos Gkentsef

Mait Mäekivi

Martti Helde

Piret Toomvap-Schönberg

Siim Kaarel Saluri

Rasmus Rembel

Tiiu-Ann Pello

Janar Volmer

Triin Tenso

Toomas Külaots

Erkki Tikan

Reet Kochberg

Ott Tiigirand

Péter Kollányi

Egert Kamenik

Dankuro Shinma

Teddy Puusepp

Kristjan Pütsep

Erik Õunapuu

Risto Kosk

Sirli Pohlak

Nele Raudik

Taivo Soobard

Liane Gillett

Rasmus Puksmann

Marko Järv

Anu Jääts

Al Wallcat

Kaire Nurk

Hendrik Saks

Kea Kendra

Lauri Kivipelto

Priit Pruks

Armin Altorf

Kadri Tali

Reino Kuber

Peeter Sepp

Keio Kärdla

Ann Lumiste

Joosep Jürisson

Svetlana Agureeva

Mikk Kendra

Pille Küngas

Rasmus Kosseson

Carlos E. Lesmes

Merit Hein

Ergo Teekivi

Volmer Kliimand

Margus Mänd

Epp Salulaid

Tiina Lokk

Toomas Zupping

Andres Arro

Tarmo Mõttus

Sten Trutin

Tanel Toom

Martin Grand

Andrus Ilp

Riitta Peteri

Riho Vahtras

Ronet Tänav

Ketlin Kasar

Kristiina-Hortensia Port

Ingvar Heamägi

Henri Keerutaja

Aili Maarja

Hendrik Krinal

Christopher Racster

Sergey Fetisov

Tambet Tasuja

Peeter Rebane

Brigita Rozenbrika

Orlan Boston

Leo Lätti

Jennifer Õun

Matis Rei

Markus Andreas

Kaia Pihlak

Hiie Fluss

Florian Obrecht

Priit Rebane

Franka Vakkum

Tanel Tänna

Neil Tennant

Sophia Tamaro

Tapio Liukkonen

Alice Rathert

Gert Mäll

Paloma Schnitzer

Alina Axt

Mauro Durant

Kristi Rimm

Josef Risling

Adele Thele Robam

Mare Raidma

Kalju Kivi

Adrian Baumeister

CinemaSerf

Sergey (Tom Prior) is a young private in the Soviet army based in Estonia. With only a few weeks of his service left, he is designated to look after the newly arrived pilot Lt. Matvejev (Oleg Zagorodnii). Initially very formal, the two begin to bond over their enthusiasm for photography and vodka. Soon, the two are lovers and treading a very dangerous path - not only could they face up to 5 years in a gulag somewhere, but the stigma attached to there activities would be career ending for both. Luckily, his/their friendship with the colonel's assistant Luisa (a sparing but strong effort from Diana Pozharskaya) serves to deflect the attentions of the suspicious KGB major Zverev (Margus Prangel), but well and truly spooked, the two must take self preservation measures resulting in the younger man leaving and moving to Moscow to become an actor, whilst his erstwhile boss stays put and marries Luisa. Neither man can forget the intensity of their relationship, and it isn't long before Matvejev is in on an assignment and the two men are all but living together. The arrival of his wife and child finally brings things to an head; sadly one ultimately leading to tragedy for all concerned. This is a true story, but though set in the Communist era could apply just as easily to so many other, supposedly more free, nations who banned same sex relationships or people who were gay from their military. To his credit, director Peeter Rebane manages to create quite an uncomfortable sense of peril in the production at the start. We do genuinely fear for the two as they explore their feelings for each other, and genuinely fall in love. Prior reminded me a little of Jonas Nay from "Deutschland 83" (2016) (though his well developed torso doesn't always look like it belongs to his head!); and he performs really well, managing to hold his accent together for the most part whilst instilling in the audience a real sense of the affection he has for his friend which is, in as practical a way as the man knows how to, but very genuinely, reciprocated. This is a well paced and scored film with some pretty potent and engaging dialogue, but in the end it is about the two men demonstrating how to fall in love in dangerous times. Insofar as the (brief) sex is between two men, it is a gay film - but more than that it is about love - the two men and Luisa - and about survival - and is really well worth a watch.

Interview with Tom Prior & Peeter Rebane

Official Trailer

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Firebird

Cast & Crew

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Cast

Tom Prior

Oleg Zagorodnii

Diana Pozharskaya

Jake Henderson

Margus Prangel

Nicholas Woodeson

Ester Kuntu

Kaspar Velberg

Sergei Lavrentyev

Rasmus Kaljujärv

Box office

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