LIVE FROM THE INDUSTRY@TALLINN & BALTIC EVENT

Crying is not just an expression of sadness or hopelessness, but also a way to find hope, connect with oneself, others, and even nature. Especially if you do it through music.

A Karelian woman, who’s been through many hardships in life, compassionately guides two younger women, with each their own tragic predicaments. They are on their path to learn about the old Karelian tradition of creating cries. She teaches Karelian lament courses. For some, this is the way to find healing, answers and self-reflection. Karelia is a historical region of Northern Europe, currently divided between Russia and Finland.

It is captivating to see how the teaching of an old tradition can turn into a deep therapeutic seance for both the teacher and the students. The lesson goes beyond crafting wailing for sad occasions. It also teaches us to find the positives in life, and sing about them too! The changing scenery and transformation of the outfits helps to create a wholesome narrative of the younger generation embracing traditions.

The movie brings us a heartwarming journey of two generations connecting through song, discovering their roots and finding peace within themselves. It can be painful to put the hardships on paper and even more painful to sing them out loud. Whether you do it in front of others or alone in the woods singing to the trees and birds.

Despite the relatively short runtime of just 11 minutes, the director still manages to craft a heartfelt and emotional piece of filmmaking, with a coherent script, stunning visuals, and a fascinating glimpse into a very peculiar tradition.

A Cry For Me premiered in the PÖFF Shorts section of the 28th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. This review was written as part of the Film Review Workshop conducted on November 10th, 2024.

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