The Elmo Nüganen film “1944” hit Estonian cinema theaters on the 20th of February 2015. The films’ first week achieved 44 879 admissions, the highest admission record of any Estonian film ever premiered in Estonia.
The previous best opening week for an Estonian film before was also film by Elmo Nüganen “Names in the Marble” in 2002 whose opening first week had achived 33 122 admissions. By the end of active admission period this film totalled 167 000 admissions.
”1944” story is about the last year of war on Estonian soil. Men are fighting on the border of Estonia and Russia. Some have been taken to the Red Army, some to Waffen SS. Today 70 years on, the filmmakers, try to show the hopes, aims and drama of these men as they fight to survive.
“1944” is an Estonian production by Taska Films. The producers are Kris Taska, Maria Advjuško and Kristjan Rahu. The minority co-producer is Ilkka Matila from Madila Röhr Productions, Finland. The DOPs are Rein Kotov (Tangerines) and Mart Taniel (Free Range).
The cast included Kristjan Üksküla, Kaspar Velberg, Maiken Schmidt, Hendrik Kalmet, Karl-Andreas Kalmet, Priit Pius, Märt Pius.
The film is financed by Estonian Film Institute, Ministry of Defence of Estonia, Estonian Defence Forces, Estonian Culture Endowment and private investments.
Link to the trailer:
Additional information:
Kristian Taska
Producer
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Eda Koppel
Estonian Film Institute
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