The production of Ove Musting’s latest feature, Pig Slaughter (Seatapp), has wrapped in Southern Estonia. The film is billed as a darkly comedic and tragic story that explores the decline of rural life and the erosion of traditions, drawing on absurd situations that are inspired by real events in Estonia. It marks Musting’s sophomore feature after the success of his acclaimed debut sports drama, Kalev [+leggi anche:
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scheda film].

The plot follows a Moldovan veterinarian working without a proper work permit, who takes on his final task assisting the villagers in the remote Estonian village of Kimna. When an inexperienced official arrives with a report of a suspected swine fever outbreak, he orders the immediate culling of all livestock. As the situation spirals into absurdity, the question is repeatedly asked: is a dog considered livestock? And what about a guinea pig or a cat? The film stars Aleksandr Bražnik, Taavi Teplenkov, Egon Nuter, Külliki Saldre, Hendrik Toompere Jr, Andres Mähar, Mari Jürjens and Argo Aadli.

Filming wrapped in early March. Director-screenwriter Musting, who hails from Southern Estonia himself, reflects on the experience: “Southern Estonia is undeniably a hidden gem. The landscapes here offer a variety of views that are hard to find elsewhere. During location scouting, we discovered some incredible places and even more incredible people, who, in turn, inspired and enriched Pig Slaughter’s story. Right before shooting, we even added details to the script – details so unbelievable that any rational person would say, ‘This couldn’t really have happened!’”

Musting further emphasises the unique nature of the movie: “This is likely the only feature to portray life outside Estonia’s capital in such a raw, humorous and honest way. In fact, Pig Slaughter may also be the last film where we see animals and people working side by side like this. This world is disappearing, and just a few years later, filming Pig Slaughter wouldn’t have been possible any more.”

Shooting took place for 30 days from January until March, across various Estonian locations, including the village of Siimika in western Harju County, Tartu and several areas in Southern Estonia, such as Valgjärv, Põlva, Võrumaa and Tsooru.

Producer Jaan Laugamõts describes the film as a poignant snapshot of a fading way of life: “The mix of brilliant and painfully absurd humour in this film will make audiences laugh, cry and reflect on what else might disappear along with our deeply rooted culture, which is ingrained in our genes. The filming period was as challenging as we expected. Shooting in winter comes with its own set of difficulties – constant cold and limited daylight make everything more complicated. Adding large numbers of animals and people creates an extraordinarily complex setting, where every crew member played a crucial role in making it all work.”

Pig Slaughter is being produced by Jaan Laugamõts for Estonia’s Downtown Pictures, with support from the Estonian Film Institute and the Cultural Endowment of Estonia. Hea Film will release it in Estonian cinemas, with the expected release date set for autumn 2026.