Out of the Cold

I think this is an OK film. Americans really don`t know much about Estonia or even worse - absolutly nothing. Even the step-dancer in the film said "Estonia - where ever that is". But this film has a greater idea - to tell the world that we are here! Estonia has had had a tought history. About a thousand years ago we lived here near The Baltic sea, Estonians were great sailors. Then the germans came and after a great war, we were put into slavery. 700 years later we were occupied by russians. And in 1918, when there was a revolution in russia, we became independent. but not just so easly - after a great war, The War of Independence. Then we lived happily for only twenty years. Then came the time this movie talks about. The russians just occupied us. And about 40% of our people were sent to Siberia or killed. We were occupied until the Soviet union fell in 1991. The historic background of this movie is absolutly correct. The American actors are nothing special, never heard of them. but there are the best Estoinan actors acting in this movie. Sorry, that in such a small parts. They should have been given bigger parts, all the Estonians in the movie should have been Estonians. And if the script would have been also more Estonian-like, this movie would have been perfect.

After I saw this movie I thought it was good for a number of reasons. As a World War II buff I was interested in the war aspect. It was enlightening to see the viciousness of the Russians portrayed during and after the second world war. I got a kick out of Keith Karradine sticking the hand of the sultry female SS agent down his trousers. All to prove if he was circumcised or not. It also reminded me of the Richard Burton film, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold as the post war scenes were similar. Women will find the romance angle of the movie just as interesting as I found the war part. Great cast and terrific production values.

My name is Irina Ginzburg and I'm professor emeritus at the Undergraduate Department of Film and TV at Queens College. In September I had the great privilege of seeing "Out of the Cold", directed by Sasha Buravsky, at the Montreal Film Festival. All I can say is that it is one of the best, most beautifully realized motion pictures I have seen in a long, long while. The writing, production design, costumes and music are fist rate. But what truly stands out is Sasha Buravsky's masterful direction. A veteran Russian playwright, Mr. Buravsky was able to convey a heartbreaking feel of awe and dread, and using his august sets and the atmosphere of the world gone wrong, he fused art and commerce in such deft, delicate way that all I can say is… "Go west, young man! You'll have a great career in Hollywood!"

I must admit this - the movie is beautifully made and the chosen locations look really wonderful. That's all. The story is ridiculous and cheap, rather 'soapy'. But what angered me the most was changing the facts. At that time Estonia had already been annexed to SU and Konstantin Päts was no longer a president (because that guy in the car couldn't have been Vares-Barbarus). The tricolor flags were no longer in use. The German army came only later, during the war. etc, etc, etc People might say that this movie at least lets the world know about Estonia, but I don't really see the need for telling pseudo historic lies. Estonia's real history is so much more exciting and touching than that, and as for soapy stories, well, you can fit them in practically anywhere. I gave it 1, but I could have given it a -1 if it had been possible.

Although it was rather good film and I had an opportunity to play a role of political prisoner, who is sent to Siberia, it had some historical mistakes. The events take place in 1939-40, the SS woman to whom another viewer refers is absurd. There were no Germans in Estonia at that time. Estonia was liberated from Soviet occupation in July 1941, when first German troops arrived.

This may seem only a minor detail, but if you are making a historical drama, then do pay attention to all details and historical background.