19/05/2007

The first-ever Estonian film shown in official selection at Cannes was applauded yesterday at the Debussy cinema, where it screened as part of Un Certain Regard. A heart-warming experience for the 26 year-old Kadri Kõusaar, who was determined to bring this difficult story of teenage suicide to the screen, convincing her largely inexperienced cast and crew to follow her on her first journey into feature-length filmmaking.

In Estonia, where the per capita suicide rate is one of the highest in the world, the story of Magnus is almost an ordinary one. Inspired by real events, the story deals with father and son relationships and the ability (or in this case the inability) of parents to communicate with their children.

Magnus, an unhealthy child with a lung disease, grows up in an unhealthy environment where morality is an unknown factor. His father Mart is a human trafficker who sends Estonian women to Germany for prostitution. His mother also earns dirty money with a modelling agency.

But Magnus is sensitive, and because of his potentially fatal illness, has learnt to “tame” death. Ten years later, Magnus is cured but continues to have a death wish. After his second suicide attempt, his father finally awakens and tries to get closer to him. He wants to share with Magnus what he finds the most valuable things in life: sex and drugs. Not quite the right remedy for the emotionally starved and crippled Magnus. The father eventually takes his son to a peaceful country cottage for a final attempt not to lose him.

Despite its dark subject matter, the film is not all gloom and doom, enlighted by touches of humour through Mart’s free sex and rock’n’roll life style. Magnus is played by the attractive rock musician Kristjan Kasearu, who captures the character’s beautiful sadness. Mart Laisk, who himself experienced a similar tragedy with his own son, is a revelation as the father.

The film was produced by Donus Film in the UK with Vitamin K Film in Estonia. Banned for theatrical release in Estonia because a woman has charged that the film is based on her life, Magnus still has a chance to reach international audiences with Onoma International handling world sales.