Die letzte Reliquie

If there's one Estonian film you have to watch in your lifetime, it's this one. It plays out like a Hollywood sword and sandal epic. There's romance and action and tension, beautiful damsel in distress, swashbuckling hero and a moustached villain. Check it out!

"Viimne reliikvia" or "The Last Relic" in English is one of the best Estonian films during the times. With very beautiful music and actors it will be long memorable even for foreigners to say nothing about Estonians. Some of the tag-lines from this film have become as proverbs in Estonia.

For me, as Estonian, "The Last Relic" always makes a warm feeling inside. It remembers the times we were under foreign powers. Together we have overcome them and are free now. We are small, yes, but sturdy. I have seen it 4 times so far and would watch it again and again..

I like the fact that there are also Latvians acting together with Estonians, it somehow.. unites. There are also English subtitles available.

This might not seem like an outstanding film to an outsider, but it is a classic in its homeland. This is the story of how men and women fought for their freedom against higher power. The acting is great, the dialogue is classic material. This is most certainly the most often quoted piece in Estonia's history of film and for a reason. Watch it if you want to see a great film that has touched a whole nation without being too serious or too patriotic, but fun and careless among other things as well. This is as good as it gets.

'Prince Gabriel or the Last Days of Pirita Convent' is a book Estonian children read in school. It is a classic, yet not a very good book in my opinion. Yet the movie based on it is superb. Everything about it is great: the story, the acting, the scenery (really, you should watch it simply because it's so beautiful), the dialogues etc. It is a movie that Estonians won't stop remembering or quoting. This is irrelevant, yet, in my opinion, it is sad that Ivo Schenkenberg is known as a 'bad guy' and villain, while in reality he was quite an interesting historical figure, called 'the Hannibal of Estonia', who fought in the Livonian war at the end of the 15th century. I say it again: the movie is wonderful and you won't regret it if you watch it.

OK, OK. So being a Moscovite isn't exactly like being from Nebraska or anything, and I am familiar (and very much in love) with Soviet movies from that era where it was essentially mandatory to have at least two songs in a film, but... Damn good fun. It's an adventure, it's loaded with humor and a healthy dose of anti-Church sentiment - it was made under Soviet times, after all - and it's filmed in some really beautiful locations. Oh, did I mention that the female lead is really, really hot? From the first moment she appears on screen coddling a lamb to, well...watch the movie. She's hot. There are a few continuity goofs here and there (pay attention to the behavior of the iron gate in the convent towards the very end), but that's rendered irrelevant by the movie magic. This is the kind of movie I'd show my kids to encourage qualities of bravado, chivalry, independent spirit, and good old-fashioned manliness. Also, I'm not familiar with the historical context, but it's there, and it makes me want to find out more.

Recommended for anyone who likes old-time adventures, voluptuous blondes, freedom fighters, or just an all-around good time. Oh, also - if you're into black metal, this flick has a couple of choice scenes for you! Not quite Mosquito Coast but...