Kalev

Eventhough I am not a big sports fan myself by any means, I quite enjoyed watching "Kalev" as it is gripping, touching, sincere and genuine. The political issues of USSR and Estonia in the 90s are deeply rooted in the narrative, which makes this film not just another sports film about following your hopes and dreams. In contrast to other film about sport competitions (where the concentration is usually on the players/one of the players)"Kalev" leads its plot mostly through the point of view of the team's coach Jaak Salumets and manager Riho Soonik - which puts a nice spin on the sports-film genre. The costumes, haircuts and filming locations were true to the 90s era and the colour palette was not overly bright or radiant which rightly reflected the grim atmosphere in Eastern Europe at that time. I also appreciated the fast pace of the whole film and shorter runtime, which was perfect for this type of film. Although I read that some moments are not historically accurate (such as involment of some players and other historical figures), I can still recommend this film.

Kalev is a solid and engaging historical sports drama that brings to life a significant yet often overlooked moment in Baltic history-the Estonian basketball team's bid for victory during the final USSR Basketball Championship in 1991, just before the collapse of the Soviet Union. The film captures the era's spirit effectively, from Soviet architecture and fashion to the tense political atmosphere surrounding Estonia's fight for independence. Against the backdrop of current global tensions, this story resonates even more powerfully.

The pacing is commendably brisk, keeping the audience engaged throughout. Performances by Mait Malmsten, Priit Võigemast, and Reimo Sagor stand out, adding emotional depth and sincerity to the film. The decision to focus the narrative through the eyes of the coach and team manager rather than the players offers a refreshing perspective in the sports film genre.

However, Kalev doesn't fully rise to the heights that critics have claimed. Despite being based on an emotionally charged and inspiring true story, the film often feels formulaic. The basketball scenes lack the intensity typically expected in sports dramas, and key players are barely acknowledged, which feels like a missed opportunity.

While the film succeeds in blending historical commentary with sports drama and offers a heartfelt tribute to Estonia's past, it ultimately remains somewhat superficial in character development and emotional stakes. Still, it's a worthwhile watch-especially for those interested in Eastern European history or underdog stories-with a message of resilience and national pride that still holds meaning today.

All in all, Kalev is a compelling watch with historical value, and as someone who is not into sports, I liked it.

I don't really think I related with all the actions in the film, also the political connotations were rather out of date for a modern viewer. At some point you just don't really get involved in what's being shown and what is supposed to be exciting just becomes a little boring.

Probably older men who belong to the generation that were forced to live in the USSR can relate to the narrative and the whole fact of Estonia competing against the giant Russia was considered to be a sort of boost to the national awakening movement, but for a person of a younger generation, it's more like Why am I watching this film.

The film managed to keep a good tempo and stay engaging. Yes, the athletes looked like beer league players at times, but how big is the overlap between actors and basketball players anyway.

It is essentially a feel good drama but it does reflect a historically significant time period and an important achievement in Estonia's sporting history. They try to weave in some of these angles as well as the realities of being a pro basketball player in the Soviet Union (hint: it wasn't the lifestyle Jokic, Embiid and so on enjoy now). Truthfully, I was surprised that Tiit Sokk was presented almost as a bit player when he is perhaps Estonia's greatest basketball player ever.

I did think that a lot of scenes were a bit too instrumentalized, as though it was written by an engineer. Not a ton of subtlety or mystery... every scene seemed to have a pretty explicit purpose. Overall, though, I think people are watching it to learn about or relive this moment of national pride.

Sports dramas - especially those where the athletes are competing under trying conditions - have become a staple in the movie industry over the past few decades. They all tend to follow a fairly standard formula in which underdog competitors aspire to greatness while wrestling with ancillary challenges that threaten to derail their efforts, divert their focus and force them into difficult choices. These pictures also feature common themes like inspiration, tenacity and the virtues of teamwork. And we all know the outcomes of these pictures going in, so their conclusions rarely, if ever, come as a surprise; the suspense is in watching how our heroes overcome their ordeals and reach their destinations. Such is the stuff of the latest offering in this genre, "Kalev," the fact-based story of the Estonian national basketball team in its 1990-91 bid to win what would be the final USSR Basketball Championship before Estonia declared independence from a Soviet Union that would collapse not long thereafter. Writer-director Ove Musting successfully hits all the right (i.e., expected) notes and throws in a few delicious unanticipated twists in this feature film debut, an economically told and edited offering that moves along at a refreshingly brisk pace, punctuated with stirring re-created game sequences that make viewers feel like they're right in the middle of the action. While the narrative and screenplay might have benefitted from a little more originality, that's a minor concern in the overall scheme of things given how many aspects it gets right. Die-hard sports fans (particularly basketball lovers) will surely enjoy this one while learning a little more about the inner workings of Soviet politics and the fates of the courageous Baltic republics (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) that led the charge in breaking free from the oppressive rule they were forced to live under for decades. Here's to the winners!