Hullumeelsus

An existential drama from Estonia/USSR. It is close to the end of WW II. A mental hospital housed in a stylish manor. Sturmbannführer August Windisch appears in a number of moods, positions and costumes. We are taught to believe he is on a mission to detect a British spy. There's much more to the story. Plenty. It's also hilarious and intricate. The subconscious rules. A very rare film of central European character. See it.

Kaljo Kiisk was one of those rare Estonian directors who could make his movies look non-estonian. His movies were usually well paced and beautifully shot with interesting characters and witty dialogue. This is also the case with 'Insanity' that is probably one of the best (if not the best) movies Kiisk ever directed. What this movie all could have been if there wouldn't have been the restrictions of Soviet censorship. Cinematography is gorgeous - the camera never seems to stop and the stylish movements in the conversation scenes never get distractive. And of course that brilliant scene with the imaginary typewriter.

Jüri Järvet stars as gestapo officer Windisch who arrives into insane asylum to capture British spy who supposedly hides himself among the patients. He picks out five prime suspects who he starts to work on. The investigation doesn't go smoothly and all the obstacles drive Windisch near insanity himself, and unclear talk of hospital's enigmatic main psychiatrist (Voldemar Panso) doesn't help much. The story is quite straightforward, but with plenty of tension and mystery until the very last minutes when the shocking twist is revealed.

'Insanity' is Estonian cult classic (although it deserves much more recognition) and is one of the prime examples of Soviet era Estonian cinema among with 'Dead Mountaineer's Hotel' and 'The Last Relic'. Highly recommended to anyone who's interested in Estonian cinema.