LIVE FROM THE INDUSTRY@TALLINN & BALTIC EVENT

Every now and then, the media reports shocking and dangerous stunts with fatal endings on streaming platforms. In Joonas Lind’s short film Don’t Look Away, two young males, Milo (Leonhard Taalmaa) and Karl (Kristjan Taska), love streaming their antics. At first, the number of viewers is low. They must come up with new ways to entertain their audiences, if they want to keep the existing users and attract new ones.

Milo is arrogant and self-confident and knows exactly how to get what he wants. He uses the camera as a catalyst for events. Karl is timid, confused and gullible, and his drug use has triggered dread, depression and paranoia. Both actors do a very good job portraying the two very good friends, however with very different personalities. Taska deserves further credit for the credible representation of narcotic addiction.

The supporting actors too are very convincing. The language is very authentic: abundant slang, profanities and anglicisms. The outcome is a very realistic film. These are the kind of young people who would make you hasten your pace should you come across them at night. The depiction of the world of streaming is also remarkably convincing. Heavy bass beats and vape steam intoxicate the room. Characters are presented exactly as they would in a real live stream. User comments pop up across the screen. The viewer count changes in real time. Shaky footage adds a touch of rawness to the proceedings.

Tension quickly builds as the fast-paced plot unfolds. The atmosphere becomes increasingly unsettling. The young people drink, do drugs, hang out in parking areas, and yell at each other for no apparent reason. At times, the viewing experience is uncomfortable. Repulsive even. Maybe these people could even hurt someone deemed too different. Roughly five minutes into this 17-minute movie, it becomes clear that a tragedy is inevitable. You want to get away from these guys as quickly as you can.

Overall, the story has a robust structure, and the developments are riveting. The ending is a little predictable, and not entirely original. Still, a good film with a clear takeaway: choose your entertainment more wisely, or you could pay a very heavy price.

Don’t Look Away shows in the PÖFF Shorts section of the 29th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. This review was written as part of the Film Review Workshop conducted on November 9th, 2025.