Talve

This is a fun summer movie about the life in a small village during 1942. War is referenced but not the main topic here, it's the relations and love between young people.

Fun fact: the movie has headline Winter but has nothing to do with winter. This is 4th and final chapter in movie series started by Kevade (Spring, 1969).

It is amazing to see that four actors form the first movie are still playing the same characters 51 years later. You don't have to be seen the previous movies because this has new main characters and new plot. But without previous movies you probably don't rate over 7/10, it has multiple jokes and references to the events happened before.

Best acting for me: Franz Malmsten as son of Arno Tali - that's exactly I imagined he would be Henessi Schmidt as a girl messing up boys' heads - suitable for every movie.

Awful movie not worth of watching. Story is extremly bad and actors are made to repeat their punchlines from Kevade over and over again. Waste of time and money.

'Where the Heart Is', aka 'Winter' (though has nothing to do with that period...), is (presumably) the finale to this tetralogy of Oskar Luts-based movies. It's good, just about.

If I'm honest, it's closer to 'Spring' and 'Autumn' (them being 'meh') than (the certainly good) 'Summer'. With that said, I think it narrowly gets a pass from yours truly. There's enough in there to enjoy, there are also some stunning visuals - definitely the movie's main plus point, well alongside the hearty ending.

The cast features newcomers and returnees. It's pleasant to see Riina Hein and Margus Lepa yet again, seeing them age through these movies is actually quite cool; from that 1970 original all the way to this 2020 flick. Unfortunately there is no return for Arno Liiver, though we do get Franz Malmsten appearing as his onscreen son; Arnold kinda just hovers as the film progresses with other characters, but a nice touch nevertheless.

Karl Robert Saaremäe does likewise but features more heavily as the offspring of Joosep, understandable given the obvious absence of the late Aare Laanemets. Away from the aforementioned bunch, there are positive showings from series newbies Henessi Schmidt and Saara Nüganen. It's a solid cast.

Finally ticked these movies off, they certainly make for an interesting journey through Estonian cinema!

One can definitely argue several aspects here, starting with the need for it and possible twisting of Oskar Luts´s grasps and ideas, but the approach is pleasant, performances good, and the beautiful scenery emphasizes the mood of "good old days" - in spite of World War II around. True, in Talve, the main characters are the young trying to live and dream within the present German and previous Soviet occupation, the older generations are in the background, with Harry Kõrvits as Ollep being an interesting and mostly humorous addition...

Talve is apparently not a film for wider international audience, but Finns and Latvians might find something in common at least. Particularly, if they have seen Kevade, Suvi and Sügis as well.

8 for performances, 6 for script = 7.