''Äratus'' (English: ''Awakening'') is a 1989 Estonian historical drama film directed by

Jüri Sillart Jüri Sillart (29 May 1943 Tallinn – 10 September 2011) was an Estonian film operator, director, producer and pedagogue. In 1970 he graduated from Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography. From 1971 to 1994 he worked as an operator-director in Ta ...

Plot

The film chronicles the lives of Estonian villagers during "

Operation Priboi Operation Priboi (russian: Операция «Прибой» – "Operation 'Coastal Surf) was the code name for the Population transfer in the Soviet Union, Soviet mass deportation from the Baltic states on 25–28 March 1949. The action is also ...

"; the 25 to 28 March 1949 Soviet mass deportation of more than 90,000

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...

ns,

Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas Republika, links=no, liv, Leţmō Vabāmō, links=no), is a country in the Baltic region of ...

ns and

Lithuania Lithuania (; lt, Lietuva ), officially the Republic of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Respublika, links=no ), is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. Lithuania ...

ns labeled as "

enemies of the people The term enemy of the people or enemy of the nation, is a designation for the political or class opponents of the subgroup in power within a larger group. The term implies that by opposing the ruling subgroup, the "enemies" in question are ac ...

" to forced settlements in inhospitable areas of the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...

Production

The manuscript of the film was written by writer and playwright

Rein Saluri Rein Saluri (born on 22 September 1939) is an Estonian writer and playwright. Saluri was born in the Tammiku, Väike-Maarja Parish, Tammiku, Salla Parish (now part of Väike-Maarja Parish). In 1946, when he was seven, Saluri, along with his family ...

and presented to

Tallinnfilm Tallinnfilm is the oldest surviving film studio in Estonia. It was founded as Estonian Culture Film in 1931, and was nationalized in 1940 after Estonia was forced into the Soviet Union. During the first year of Soviet Occupation During Worl ...

editor

Tiina Lokk Tiina Lokk-Tramberg (born 1 October 1955) is an Estonian filmmaker, film teacher and politician, who was a member of the Riigikogu from 2012 to 2015, representing the Estonian Reform Party. Early life and education Born in Tallinn, Lokk gradua ...

in late 1986 or early 1987. Lokk liked the manuscript, but was initially dissuaded by other employees at Tallinnfilm from pursuing the project. In 1989, the editorial board at Tallinnfilm granted Lokk permission to turn the manuscript into a film. Arvo Kruusement was the first choice to direct the film, however, he disliked the material.

, who had worked as a cameraman and cinematographer up to that point in his career, showed an interest in the material and was hired as the director. Historian

Mart Laar Mart Laar (born 22 April 1960) is an Estonian politician and historian. He served as the Prime Minister of Estonia from 1992 to 1994 and from 1999 to 2002. Laar is credited with having helped bring about Estonia's rapid economic development dur ...

interviewed subjects who were deported to Siberia in the late 1940s for research and the manuscript was finalized on

Hiiumaa Hiiumaa (, ) is the second largest island in Estonia and is part of the West Estonian archipelago, in the Baltic Sea. It has an area of 989 km2 and is 22 km from the Estonian mainland. Its largest town is Kärdla. It is located within H ...

by Saluri and Sillart. The filmmakers later recounted that they were surprised that it was not difficult to make a film about the deportations during the end of the Soviet era. Russian conscripts were even hired from their military base at

Tapa Tapa, TAPA, Tapas or Tapasya may refer to: Media *Tapas (website), a webtoon site, formerly known as Tapastic * ''Tapas'' (film), a 2005 Spanish film * ''Tapasya'' (1976 film), an Indian Hindi-language film * ''Tapasya'' (1992 film), a Nepalese f ...

as extras in the film. When the film was completed, Lokk, Sillart, and Saluri took the film in a taxi to the All-Union Cinema Committee in

Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...

for review. Neither Lokk nor Sillart remember any reproach by Soviet authorities there.

Cast

Tõnu Kark Tõnu Kark (born on 4 December 1947 in Tallinn) is an Estonian actor. His older brother is actor and caricaturist Feliks Kark. Notable roles Notable film roles: * '' Nest of Winds'' (1979) * '' Metskannikesed'' (1980) * '' Nukitsamees'' (1981) * ...

as Voldemar Rass * Sulev Luik as I Linnamees *

Kaljo Kiisk Kaljo Kiisk (3 December 1925 – 20 September 2007) was a Soviet and Estonian actor, film director, screenwriter and politician. He was best known for his roles as Kristjan Lible from ''Spring'' ( et, Kevade), ''Summer'' (''Suvi'') and ''Autu ...

as Mõistuse Jaan *

Maria Klenskaja Maria Klenskaja (29 January 1951 – 6 January 2022) was an Estonian actress. Early life and career Klenskaja was born in Tartu, of Russian parentage. From 1968 until 1970, she worked in the Estonian State Youth Theatre in Tallinn as a make-up ...

as Linnanaine *

Jaan Rekkor Jaan Rekkor (born 3 April 1958) is an Estonian stage, film and television actor. Early life and education Jaan Rekkor was born in the small village of Hõreda in Rapla County. He attended schools in Märjamaa, graduating from the Ants Lauter M ...

as Peeter Kängsepp *

Anne Paluver Anne Paluver (born 4 November 1952 in Tallinn) is an Estonian actress. Paulver was born in Tallinn, the daughter of mathematician Nikolai Paluver. She attended schools in Tallinn, graduating from Tallinn No. 22 Secondary School in 1970 (now the ...

as Salme Peterson * Arvo Kukumägi as Kaarel Peterson *

Väino Laes Väino Laes (born 26 September 1951 in Jõhvi) is an Estonian actor. In 1974 he graduated from Tallinn State Conservatory. From 1978 to 1989 he worked at Rakvere Theatre, 1989–1995 in Estonian Drama Theatre, and since 1995 in Vanalinnastuudio. ...

as Saareaugu Arnold *

Ülle Kaljuste Ülle Kaljuste (born Ülle Side; 10 April 1957) is an Estonian stage, film, television and radio actress. Early life Born Ülle Side in Tallinn, she attended Tallinn Secondary School No. 2 (Tallinn Reaalkool), graduating in 1975. Afterward, she ...

as Saareaugu Aliide *

Mati Klooren Mati Klooren (31 July 1938 – 16 July 2000) was an Estonian actor and theatre director. Mati Klooren was born in Tallinn. His younger brother was actor Enn Klooren. In 1961, he graduated from the Tallinn State Conservatory's Performing Arts Depa ...

as Richard Sass * Feliks Kark as Ants Tammemets *

Katrin Kohv Katrin Kohv (born 8 February 1964 in Tallinn) is an Estonian actress. In 1986 she graduated from Tallinn State Conservatory Stage Art Department. 1986-1990 she worked at Ugala Theatre Ugala is a theatre in Viljandi Viljandi (, german: Fel ...

as Vennaru Linda *

Rein Oja Rein Oja (born 26 February 1956) is an Estonian actor, film director and theatre leader. Rein Oja was born in Tallinn. He is the older brother of actor Tõnu Oja. In 1978 he graduated from Tallinn State Conservatory. In 1978-1997 he worked at Noor ...

as II Vallamees *

Hilja Varem Hilja Varem (since 1960 Hilja Vee; born on 19 July 1934 in Põltsamaa) is an Estonian actress. From 1956 until 1959, she worked at Ugala Theatre, from 1959 until 1975 at Endla Theatre, and from 1976 until 1992 at Noorsooteater. Besides theatre rol ...

as Nuudimäe Armelde *

Elle Kull Elle Kull (born 5 January 1952 in Haapsalu) is an Estonian actress and politician. She was a member of X Riigikogu. She has been a member of Res Publica Party. Selected filmography *''Äratus'' (1989) *'' Amber Wings'' (2003) *'' Jade Warrior'' ...

as Antsurahva Leida *

Kaie Mihkelson Kaie Mihkelson (born 12 October 1948) is an Estonian film and stage actress. Biography Early life and education Mihkelson was born in Pärnu, Estonia on 12 October 1948. She graduated from the Tallinn Polytechnical Institute of Economics in ...

as I Naine *

Kaarin Raid Kaarin Raid (22 October 1942 Rakvere – 29 July 2014 Viljandi) was an Estonian director, theatre pedagogue and actor. In 1967 she graduated from GITIS in director speciality. 1967–1974 she was a director at Endla Theatre, 1974–1977 at Estoni ...

as Maanaine *

Hannes Kaljujärv Hannes Kaljujärv (born on 4 January 1957 in Tartu) is an Estonian actor. In 1979 he graduated from the University of Tartu with a degree in physical education ( et, kehakultuuriteaduskond). In 1979 he also finished courses with Evald Hermaküla' ...

as Komsorg

Accolades

Awards, nominations, participations: * 1989: Monstra Internationale del Film d'Auttore (San Remo, Italy). Special Jury Prize * 1990: Espoo Ciné International Film Festival (Finland). Nyrki Tapiovaara Award * 1990: Riga International Film Festival (Latvia), Participation. Main Program * 1990:

Edinburgh International Film Festival The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is a film festival that runs for two weeks in June each year. Established in 1947, it is the world's oldest continually running film festival. EIFF presents both UK and international films (all ti ...

(Scotland, UK). Participation, Main Program * 2001: Baltic Film Festival (Gotland, Sweden). Participation, Main Program

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0098728
Äratus
entry in Estonian Film Database (EFIS) 1989 films Estonian drama films Estonian-language films Tallinnfilm films Soviet-era Estonian films