LIVE FROM THE INDUSTRY@TALLINN & BALTIC EVENT

Hubert (Ender Persidski) lives with his father August (Ergo Küppas). It is mid-summer and peacefulness prevails. The perfect opportunity to bury the sad memories haunting the tiny nuclear family. Then Hubert’s 18-year-old brother Hans (Jens-Patrik Rand) returns home from military service, immediately stirring emotions. The two siblings attempt to spend time with their father, who is instead consumed with heavy grief and alcohol addiction.

This is the thought-provoking story of three males dealing with a tragedy. The warm summer days offer them little comfort and solace, as they grapple with suffering, and struggle to accept their undue fate. They avoid the elusive topic, while also failing to understand why they are unable to forge ahead. Instead, they remain stuck in a dark place. Long mornings and hours sitting by fireplace are spent in silence. Often the only discernible sound is the the constant boing of the trampoline. The bouncing device serves as a reminder of their inability to move on.

This is an aesthetically accomplished movie. The images are elegant and riveting. The dark tones blend in well with the old-fashioned funk music, from the olden days of the Soviet Union. The movie also boasts the mellow hues and gentle camera movements that are commonly associated with Estonian cinema nowadays.

As the narrative unfolds, audiences are invited to empathise and care for the boys. Little is known about August, and Küppas’s performance is rather contrived. As a result, August is not an entirely credible character. It is difficult to see the world through his eyes. Kokla refuses to give audiences straights answers. Instead, she just invites us to sit with the family, and quietly observe their interactions.

August shows 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.