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

Toomas 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

Piret Toomvap-Schönberg

Martti Helde

Siim Kaarel Saluri

Janar Volmer

Tiiu-Ann Pello

Reet Kochberg

Erik Õunapuu

Rasmus Rembel

Triin Tenso

Dankuro Shinma

Ott Tiigirand

Péter Kollányi

Carlos E. Lesmes

Egert Kamenik

Mikk Kendra

Kea Kendra

Teddy Puusepp

Andrus Ilp

Taivo Soobard

Reino Kuber

Volmer Kliimand

Peeter Sepp

Risto Kosk

Keio Kärdla

Sten Trutin

Margus Mänd

Riitta Peteri

Ann Lumiste

Henri Keerutaja

Lauri Kivipelto

Riho Vahtras

Merit Hein

Toomas Külaots

Erkki Tikan

Al Wallcat

Liane Gillett

Tiina Lokk

Priit Pruks

Tanel Toom

Aili Maarja

Hendrik Krinal

Ronet Tänav

Kristjan Pütsep

Rasmus Puksmann

Marko Järv

Armin Altorf

Toomas Zupping

Pille Küngas

Sirli Pohlak

Kaire Nurk

Epp Salulaid

Ketlin Kasar

Kristiina-Hortensia Port

Anu Jääts

Andres Arro

Kadri Tali

Ingvar Heamägi

Martin Grand

Rasmus Kosseson

Ergo Teekivi

Hendrik Saks

Joosep Jürisson

Tarmo Mõttus

Nele Raudik

Svetlana Agureeva

Brigita Rozenbrika

Peeter Rebane

Orlan Boston

Christopher Racster

Sergey Fetisov

Krzysztof Aleksander Janczak

Tambet Tasuja

Leo Lätti

Jennifer Õun

Matis Rei

Markus Andreas

Marco Iafrate

Kaia Pihlak

Mauro Durant

Michael Edelstein

Will Randall-Coath

Priit Rebane

Kristi Rimm

Hiie Fluss

Béatrice Kruger

Eva-Maria Gramakovski

Kalju Kivi

Aadu Lambot

Marjatta Nissinen

Mare Raidma

Kertu Köösel

Karin Martinson

Franka Vakkum

Drama

Romance

Firebird

The Factory

No Reservations Entertainment

Firebird Production

Estonian Film Institute

Estonia

United Kingdom

United States of America

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.