''Tuulepealne maa'' ("Windward Land") is a twelve-part Estonian television mini-series about the pre-

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

history of

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 ...

, its birth as a country, the

Estonian War of Independence The Estonian War of Independence ( et, Vabadussõda, literally "Freedom War"), also known as the Estonian Liberation War, was a defensive campaign of the Estonian Army and its allies, most notably the United Kingdom, against the Bolshevik westw ...

, post-war life throughout 1920 up to 1941 and

. The series first aired on 9 October 2008 on Estonia's

ETV ETV may stand for: Television * e.tv, a South African terrestrial television channel * Educational Television (Hong Kong), a television series * Educational television, the use of television in education * Enhanced TV, an interactive television ap ...

. Each episode runs at approximately 55 minutes. The show was created by Mihkel Ulman and historian Lauri Vahtre, the series is produced by Raivo Suviste. DVD was published in the April 2009. But the last part "Not a War for Young Men" was aired on 24 February 2013.

Plot

The main characters in the series are a

Lääne County Lääne County ( et, Lääne maakond or ''Läänemaa'', literally "Western land"; german: Wiek; la, Rotalia) is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is located in western Estonia and borders the Baltic Sea to the north, Harju County to the north-ea ...

-native Toomas Roo (Kaljujärv), who is to start his studies in

Tallinn Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn has a population of 437,811 (as of 2022) and administratively lies in the Harju '' ...

, and Indrek Kallaste (Avandi), a son of wealth, who studies at the same school as Toomas. The series plot follows the lives of the two young men. The show also features historic characters, such as

Konstantin Päts Konstantin Päts (; – 18 January 1956) was an Estonian statesman and the country's president in 1938–1940. Päts was one of the most influential politicians of the independent democratic Republic of Estonia, and during the two decades prior ...

and

Johan Laidoner Johan Laidoner ( – 13 March 1953) was an Estonian general and statesman. He served as Commander‑in‑Chief of the Estonian Armed Forces during the 1918–1920 Estonian War of Independence and was among the most influential people in the Eston ...

. The

Estonian Declaration of Independence __NOTOC__ The Estonian Declaration of Independence, also known as the Manifesto to the Peoples of Estonia ( et, Manifest Eestimaa rahvastele), is the founding act of the Republic of Estonia from 1918. It is celebrated on 24 February, the Nation ...

was publicly proclaimed in

Pärnu Pärnu () is the fourth largest city in Estonia. Situated in southwest Estonia, Pärnu is located south of the Estonian capital, Tallinn, and west of Estonia's second largest city, Tartu. The city sits off the coast of Pärnu Bay, an inlet ...

on 23 February 1918 and afterwards on 24 February 1918 in Tallinn. Toomas Roo joins

Vaps Movement The Vaps Movement ( et, Eesti Vabadussõjalaste Keskliit, later ''Eesti Vabadussõjalaste Liit'', ''vabadussõjalased'', or colloquially ''vapsid'', a single member of this movement was called ''vaps'') was an Estonian political organization. Fo ...

in 1933. In 1940–1941 he and Indrek Kallaste are members of

Forest Brothers The Guerrilla war in the Baltic states was an armed struggle which was waged by the Latvian, Lithuanian, and Estonian partisans, called the Forest Brothers (also: the "Brothers of the Wood" and the "Forest Friars"; et, metsavennad, lv, mež ...

squad which participates in the attack on

on 28 August 1941.

Episodes

* Part one – Independence for a Day * Part two – From Schooldesk to a Battlefield * Part three – War Is War * Part four – Quo Vadis? * Part five – Affairs of the Heart * Part six – Of Love and Friendship * Part seven – Firewater * Part eight – Veterans of the War of Independence * Part nine – Silence * Part ten – What Will Be? * Part eleven – Sinking Ship * Part twelve – State of Glass * Part thirteen – Not a War for Young Men

Cast

* Rasmus Kaljujärv as Toomas Roo *

Märt Avandi Märt Avandi (born 26 February 1981) is an Estonian actor and comedian. Biography He is known in Estonia for his performances in TV show '' Tujurikkuja'' (2008–2015) with Ott Sepp, that made them household names in Estonia. Avandi has worked a ...

as Indrek Kallaste * Evelin Pang as Adele Kallaste *

Mirtel Pohla Mirtel Pohla (born 28 January 1982) is an Estonian stage, film and television actress. Early life and education Mirtel Pohla was born in Tartu. She attended secondary school at the Tartu Karlova Gümnaasium, graduating in 2000. Afterward, she app ...

as Maret Kallaste *

Marko Matvere Marko Matvere (born 4 February 1968) is an Estonian actor and singer. He was the lead actor of the Tallinn City Theatre, but left to become a freelance actor in 2004. Biography Matvere was born in Pärnu and graduated from the Tallinn Conserva ...

as Artur Kallaste *

Andrus Vaarik Andrus Vaarik (born 14 May 1958) is an Estonian film, television, and theater actor and theater director. He is best known for his portrayal of Andrus Kivirähk's fictional character Ivan Orav, Raul in the film '' Agent Sinikael'', Osvald Kallast ...

as Osvald Kallaste *

Tõnu Oja Tõnu Oja (born 4 July 1958 in Tallinn) is an Estonian actor. In 1980 he graduated from Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Since 2003 he has worked at the Estonian Drama Theatre. He has also played in films. His elder brother is actor and dir ...

as Joosep Roo *

Ago Anderson Ago Anderson (born 8 April 1972 in Pärnu) is an Estonian actor. Since 1994 he is working at Endla Theatre. He has also played in several films and television series. Selected roles in films and television series * 1995 '' Wikmani poisid'' (telev ...

as Herbert Sammal *

Kristjan Sarv Kristjan Sarv (born Tartu, 21 December 1979) is an Estonian actor. He studied acting at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (2000-2004). From 2005–2008, he worked in the theatre NO99. He has appeared in several television series and fe ...

as Leo Solba *

Tõnu Mikiver Tõnu Mikiver (2 August 1943 Loksa – 21 March 2017 Tallinn) was an Estonian actor. Career In 1965 he graduated from the Tallinn State Conservatory's Performing Arts Department. From 1965 until 1977, he worked at Estonian Youth Theatre and from ...

as Einar Soodla *

Üllar Saaremäe Üllar Saaremäe (born November 23, 1969) is an Estonian actor, director, politician, and punk band singer. Biography Üllar Saaremäe was born 23 November 1969 in Kohta-Järve. He has two children from his relationship with actress Tiina Mälb ...

as Karl Ploompuu *

Ülle Lichtfeldt Ülle Lichtfeldt (born 4 August 1970) is an Estonian actress. Since 1995 she is working at Rakvere Theatre. Besides theatre roles she has also played on films and television series. Lichtfeldt is married to actor and politician Indrek Saar. Sele ...

as Maria Kallaste * Liina-Riin Olmaru as Elfriede Kallaste *

Anne Reemann Anne Reemann (born 30 December 1962) is an Estonian actress. In 1988, Reemann graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Since then, she has worked at the Tallinn City Theatre. Reemann has acted in numerous movie productions, for ...

as Inge Roo *

Marika Vaarik Marika Vaarik (since 1994 Marika Vaarik-Soo; born on 13 October 1962 in Kose) is an Estonian actress. In 1991 she graduated Tallinn Pedagogical Institute in theatrical directing speciality ( et, näitejuhtimise eriala). 1987-1994 she worked at ...

as Asta Sammal *

Indrek Taalmaa Indrek Taalmaa (born 9 July 1967) is an Estonian stage, television, voice, film actor, and theatre director whose career began in the early 1990s. Early life and education Indrek Taalmaa was born and raised in the town of Viljandi. He graduated ...

Eero Spriit Eero Spriit (born 4 September 1949), is an Estonian actor, theatre producer and director, and film and television producer. Spriit's career as an actor began in the early 1970s. Early life and education Eero Spriit was born as one of two children ...

* Marin Mägi-Efert as Marju Pärtel *

Taavi Teplenkov Taavi Teplenkov (born 2 May 1975 in Tallinn) is an Estonian actor. Since 1998 he works at Estonian Drama Theatre. Besides theatrical roles he has also played on several films and television series. Roles Selected film roles * ''Must veri'' (200 ...

as Sarapiku Jass *

Veljo Reinik Veljo Reinik (born 15 June 1981) is an Estonian stage, television and film actor. Early life and education Veljo Reinik was born in Keila in 1981. He attended primary and secondary schools in Keila before studying theatre at the University of Ta ...

as Anton Telg * Ester Pajusoo as Reet *

Hele Kõrve Hele Kõrve (until 2009, Hele Kõre; born 7 January 1980) is an Estonian stage, television, film and voice actress and singer. Early life and education Hele Kõrve was born Hele Kõre in 1980 in the town of Jõgeva, in Jõgeva County. She graduat ...

as Ivi Kallaste *

Priit Loog Priit is an Estonian masculine given name, cognate to English Fred or Frederick and to German Friedrich. People named Priit include: *Priit Aavik (born 1994), swimmer * Priit Aimla (born 1941), writer, poet, humorist and politician *Priit Her ...

as Richard Rõõmus *

Inga Salurand Inga Salurand (born 1 August 1983) is an Estonian stage, film, and television actress whose career began in the mid-2000s. Early life and education Inga Salurand was born and raised in Tartu, where she attended primary and secondary schools. In ...

as Silvia *

Egon Nuter Egon Nuter (born on 23 September 1955 in Tallinn) is an Estonian actor. In 1980 he graduated from Tallinn Pedagogical Institute in stage managing speciality. From 1980 until 2002, he worked at the Vanalinnastuudio. Since 2019, he has been an acto ...

as Jakob

References

External links

Official website

Introduction at postimees.ee
*{{IMDb title, 1343073 2008 Estonian television series debuts 2000s Estonian television series 2008 in Estonian television Eesti Televisioon original programming