Kevad südames

This is a cute little made-for-TV film about a summer camp, where children come to sing and dance and, most importantly of all, to be young and carefree.

The characters are the kind you expect to find in any movie about kids at a performing arts camp - there is the kind-hearted protagonist Toomas who has the voice of an angel and who falls for the pretty blonde girl called Elle, there is the quirky "alternative kid" who's always listening to "cool" music on his cassette player (yes, the Ghostbusters song was considered cool in 1980s Estonia), the funny fat kid named Tõnis (played by an up-and-coming Tarvo Krall), the grumpy camp counselor who's always in a huff about the kids' pranks (played by Feliks Kark, brother of a notable Estonian actor Tõnu Kark), and so on.

The real driving force behind this film is, of course, the music - the child performers make up for what they lack in acting ability with their musical talents and perform Estonian classics such as composer Ülo Vinter's "Laul põhjamaast". After all, the film stars former child singing sensation Toomas Uibo.

It should be pointed out that this film is probably much more enjoyable for people who are familiar with Estonian pop culture, since several of the lines and jokes in the movie are references to other Estonian or Soviet films. In fact, the entire film can be seen as a kind of a tribute to the 1969 Estonian classic "Kevade" (based on Oskar Luts' book of the same name), since the children spend almost the entire film preparing for the end-of-camp performance, which is a musical adaptation of "Kevade". The innocent "love triangle" between Elle, Toomas and Toomas' rival Teet echoes a similar relationship between Teele, Arno and Toots in "Kevade". Also, the title of this film translates roughly as "spring(time) at heart" and "Kevade" means "spring(time)".

All in all, the music is magical and the kids are adorable, but this feels more like an hour long concert than a film, because there is very little story behind the tunes.

I first saw this movie when I was a child, but I had not watched it from beginning to the end until I was a grown-up. But, does not matter how old I was, I still did not like the movie.

There is no plot, all the scenes are based on different dance numbers and songs that lead to nowhere except into comical and a bit cringe-worthy situations: for example, the children are practicing their dances for days and days, then get up in the middle of the night to party... and start dancing the same dances again! In addition, the children perform their show in the same village to the same people who have already seen it, but who behave like it is the first time. It is also highly doubtful that people who have been picking the potatoes from a kolkhoz field all day long have the strength to perform another dance on the same field while it is heavily raining.

There is an attempt to add drama, but it leads to nowhere and it adds nothing to the plot: nobody is heart-broken neither is anybody deeply happy and it is not even connected to the main characters.

The acting is poor, not only the children's but also the adult's. It all seems very stiff and forced. So, if you have nothing to do for an hour, go for a little walk, take a nap or play solitaire, but do not waste the time watching this movie.

This film captures a fleeting moment of beauty: the crystalline voice of child prodigy Toomas Uibo, preserved just before the inevitable shift of adolescence. Directed by Mati Põldre, the film is less concerned with narrative clarity and more with evoking a wistful emotional tone-one that reflects the melancholy of change, loss, and growing up.

The film's soundtrack, featuring famous songs by Ülo Vinter, deepens this emotional resonance, infusing the film with a bittersweet nostalgia. These pieces, alongside classics like "O Sole Mio," underscore the central theme: the fading innocence of youth, mirrored in Uibo's angelic vocals and the idyllic yet transient summer of the choir camp.

Uibo's portrayal of Toots is almost mythic, his golden curls and voice adding an ethereal quality to a character rooted in Estonian literary tradition. He's supported by the elite children's choir Ellerhein and the movement group Palestra, lending a professionalism and artistry that elevates the film's emotional and aesthetic power.

Cultural signposts of the disco generation-headbands, portable music gadgets, tracksuits-add a layer of authenticity and temporal charm. Though lighter on plot compared to Nukitsamees, Kevad südames stands as an emotionally rich, culturally significant film, immortalising a voice and a moment that would otherwise be lost to time. 7 points from me as I personally know several performers 😊