Paunvere parish school students Arno and Teele, Toots and Kiir, Tõnisson and Imelik experience feelings during one school winter, the traces of which they carry throughout their future lives - from true friendship and first love to self-discovery and clarifying life goals.
Acting
Non-professionals who feel more real than Hollywood teens.
Cinematography
Estonian winter as character—harsh, beautiful, unforgiving.
Writing
Oskar Luts novel adapted with zero condescension to youth.
Director
Arvo Kruusement
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Most cast were actual students with no acting training—director Kruusement found them in Tartu schools. The authenticity is accidental genius.
This is basically Estonia's entire national identity in film form: rural, literate, emotionally restrained, quietly heartbreaking. Every Estonian knows someone like each character.
SU
