Production is now underway in Latvia on Serafima, the latest feature by acclaimed Estonian filmmaker Veiko Õunpuu (Autumn Ball [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film], The Temptation of St. Tony [+leggi anche:
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trailer
scheda film], The Last Ones [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Veiko Õunpuu
scheda film]). The film promises to be “a powerful adaptation of Vahur Afanasjev’s celebrated novel Serafima and Bogdan, a sweeping story of power, love, and betrayal set against the backdrop of turbulent historical change.”

The drama centres on Dr. Vasar, a psychiatrist portrayed by Priit Võigemast, and his patient Serafima, played by Georgian actress Tinatin Dalakishvili (Extraction II). Serafima’s brother Bogdan is interpreted by Bartosz Bielenia (Corpus Christi [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Bartosz Bielenia
intervista: Jan Komasa
scheda film]), who was named Best Young European Actor and European Film Academy Best Actor in 2020. Estonian star Tambet Tuisk steps into the role of the antagonist, Serafima’s husband Raimond. The supporting cast features a strong line-up of familiar Estonian names, including Elmo Nüganen, Rain Simmul, Peeter Volkonski, Taavi Teplenkov, Katariina Tamm, Katariina Unt, Julia Aug and Liina Tennosaar.

Speaking about the project, Õunpuu described Serafima as “an exploration of how systems of power rewrite our memories, suppress resistance, and traumatise entire nations.” He added: “Serafima is a victim of the system – in a world where those who preserve their humanity are punished, while authority favours and rewards those who have completely lost their moral compass.”

Producer Andreas Kask highlighted the film’s transnational spirit: “Serafima is a brilliant example of a unified Estonian-Latvian-Polish film space. The creative team is mainly Estonian, but Latvia provides the environment and technical capacities needed to bring this story to life. We are also thrilled to collaborate with Poland again, after a long hiatus from joint productions.” He noted that Apollo Film Productions, as well as the Latvian Reimbursement Fund and the Riga Film Fund, are offering key support.

All 33 shooting days are taking place in Latvia, whose period architecture better reflects the era depicted in the story. “We searched for suitable locations in Estonia for a long time,” Kask explained. “In the end, Latvia offered the perfect visual language for the film.” Despite the recognisable visual style typical of Õunpuu’s work, the team assures that the adaptation remains faithful to the spirit of Afanasjev’s novel. “This film is a collaboration of two great authors – separate works that complement each other,” Kask concluded.

The screenplay was penned by Õunpuu himself with Martin Algus (The Traitor, Kalev [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film]), while Mart Taniel (Autumn Ball, November [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Rea Lest
scheda film], 1944 [+leggi anche:
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scheda film]) serves as cinematographer. The film is produced by Nafta Films (known for the Melchior The Apothecary trilogy, O2 and Something Real) in co-production with Nafta Films Latvia, Poland’s Orka Film and Estonia’s Apollo Film Productions.

Producing are Kask and Esko Rips, working alongside co-producers Alicja Gancarz for Orka Film, Gunda Bergmane for Nafta Films Latvia, and Tanel Tatter and Veiko Esken for Apollo Film Productions.

The €2.2 million production is backed by the Estonian Film Institute, the Estonian Cultural Endowment, Creative Europe – MEDIA, ERR, the Polish Film Institute, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, and the Riga Film Fund.