Year: 2016
Country:
ESTONIA
Language:
Estonian, English, Russian
Run Time:
95 minutes
It’s quite possible few Americans know where Estonia is on the map, but it boasts a diverse terrain complete with forests, beaches, and islands. THE SPY AND THE POET is a multi-faceted story from Estonian director Toomas Hussar and, like the country in which it is set, the film’s terrain is mixed, complete with absurdism, gun fights, and a sexy Russian spy. Gustav is a man who lives more like an insurance actuary with OCD than someone entrusted with keeping his country safe from, well, Russian spies. Perfectly happy with the normalcy in his café-visiting routine, Gustav suddenly finds himself at the center of international intrigue when a slacker poet crosses with the beautiful Nala, setting forth a chain of events that shake up Gustav’s quiet existence. Teetering the line between dark comedy and thriller, THE SPY AND THE POET is an entrancing look at a man who, much like his country, is trying to seal his identity when he’s surrounded by chaos. (In English, Estonian, and Russian with subtitles) —T.W.
Monday, April 03, 2017 at 2:15 PM
Thursday, April 06, 2017 at 9:25 PM
Competition
George Gund III Memorial Central and Eastern European Competition
Director
Toomas Hussar
Filmography
"Mushrooming" (2012) – 37th CIFF, THE SPY AND THE POET (2016)
Producer
Ivo Felt
Screenwriting
Toomas Hussar
Cinematography
Rein Kotov
Editing
Tambet Tasuja
Principal Cast
Jan UuspƵld, Lana Vatsel, Rain Tolk
Donate
Your donation helps fulfill our mission to promote artistically and culturally significant film arts through education and exhibition.