Awakening

Plot

The film chronicles the lives of Estonian villagers during "Operation Priboi"; the 25 to 28 March 1949 Soviet mass deportation of more than 90,000 Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians labeled as "enemies of the people" to forced settlements in inhospitable areas of the Soviet Union.

Production

The manuscript of the film was written by writer and playwright Rein Saluri and presented to Tallinnfilm editor Tiina Lokk in late 1986 or early 1987. Lokk liked the manuscript, but was initially dissuaded by other employees at Tallinnfilm from pursuing the project. In 1989, the editorial board at Tallinnfilm granted Lokk permission to turn the manuscript into a film. Arvo Kruusement was the first choice to direct the film, however, he disliked the material. Jüri Sillart, who had worked as a cameraman and cinematographer up to that point in his career, showed an interest in the material and was hired as the director. Historian Mart Laar interviewed subjects who were deported to Siberia in the late 1940s for research and the manuscript was finalized on Hiiumaa by Saluri and Sillart.

The filmmakers later recounted that they were surprised that it was not difficult to make a film about the deportations during the end of the Soviet era. Russian conscripts were even hired from their military base at Tapa as extras in the film. When the film was completed, Lokk, Sillart, and Saluri took the film in a taxi to the All-Union Cinema Committee in Moscow for review. Neither Lokk nor Sillart remember any reproach by Soviet authorities there.

Cast

Tõnu Kark as Voldemar Rass

Sulev Luik as I Linnamees

Kaljo Kiisk as Mõistuse Jaan

Maria Klenskaja as Linnanaine

Jaan Rekkor as Peeter Kängsepp

Anne Paluver as Salme Peterson

Arvo Kukumägi as Kaarel Peterson

Väino Laes as Saareaugu Arnold

Ülle Kaljuste as Saareaugu Aliide

Mati Klooren as Richard Sass

Feliks Kark as Ants Tammemets

Katrin Kohv as Vennaru Linda

Rein Oja as II Vallamees

Hilja Varem as Nuudimäe Armelde

Elle Kull as Antsurahva Leida

Kaie Mihkelson as I Naine

Kaarin Raid as Maanaine

Hannes Kaljujärv as Komsorg

Accolades

Awards, nominations, participations:

1989: Monstra Internationale del Film d'Auttore (San Remo, Italy). Special Jury Prize

1990: Espoo Ciné International Film Festival (Finland). Nyrki Tapiovaara Award

1990: Riga International Film Festival (Latvia), Participation. Main Program

1990: Edinburgh International Film Festival (Scotland, UK). Participation, Main Program

2001: Baltic Film Festival (Gotland, Sweden). Participation, Main Program