29-11-2009

ESTONIAN FOCUS: Bank Robbery

By Martin Aadamsoo

    Bank Robbery, a feature debut from Andrus Tuisk opened in Estonia on October 23.

    The director has long established himself as a short film and commercials director but has waited for years to get a his hands on a full-length feature.

    The reported budget of 416,000 EUR is modest even by Estonia's standards. The film is produced by Manfred Vainokvi of Filmivabrik, Tuisk's long-time collaborator and previous partner in a joint advertising production company. Also unusually for Estonia, the film is shot mostly with domestic funding, with some MEDIA money for development. The film was chosen for the Focus on World Cinema section at this year's Montreal World Film Festival.

    The picture tells the story of a boy called Hannes, a pushed-around weakling suffering from school harassment and lack of parental love, and his uncle Madis, a former boxer and lifelong criminal just released from prison. The two link up as Hannes is looking for a father figure in his life, and the boy turns out to be a master manipulator. Hannes's manoeuverings lead Madis back to crime culminating with a tragic bank robbery.

    Tuisk's short film Family business (2003) won the Best Short award at Mannheim-Heidelberg International Filmfestival.

    www.pangaroov.com


    Credits:

    Original title: Pangarööv

    Director: Andrus Tuisk

    Script: Mihkel Ulman

    DoP: Manfred Vainokivi

    Art design: Manfred Vainokivi

    Original score: Vaiko Eplik

    Costume: Anu Lensment

    Make-up: Tiina Leesik

    Sound Recording: Mart Kessel-Otsa

    Production Manager: Marju Lepp

    Producer Manfred Vainokivi, Filmivabrik

    Principal cast:

    Madis - Hannes Kaljujärv
    Hannes - Henri Kuus
    Milvi - Karin Tammaru
    Lagle - Marilyn Jurman
    Hannes' father - Indrek Taalmaa
    Hannes' mother - Marika Barabantshikova

    Length: 91 min