Euroshorts Estonia (Estonian Animations)
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Euroshorts Estonia In Estonia, beautiful animation is a fifty-year tradition. Nestled by the Baltic Sea, this European country has broken new ground in innovative, moving animated films and shorts. This month, Eurochannel is proud to present the best work from the hottest studios in Estonia. It’s an exclusive opportunity to discover the strange and beautiful ways that artists can alter their reality. |
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Program 1 Synopsis: The first part of the Euroshorts Estonia includes two 20-minutes-long animated films: Night of the Carrots and Karl and Marylin. Night of the Carrots (PORGANDITE ÖÖ, 1998) Director: Priit Pärn Nobody can truly predict catastrophes, least of all Diego. But when tragedy strikes the only hope that remains for him is the Night of the Carrots |
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Karl and Marylin (Karl ja Marilyn, 2003) Director: Priit Pärn Karl is tired of the oppressive burden of fame, and he decides to liberate himself from it. As he tries to return to the world of so-called “ordinary people”, he unexpectedly crosses paths with the fame-seeking Marilyn. To his surprise Karl becomes a force that turns Marilyn into an idol to the masses. But not for long. |
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Program 2 Synopsis: The second part of the Euroshorts Estonia includes three 15-minute-long animated films directed by Riho Unt: Having Soul, Brothers Bearhearts and North Dragon. Having Soul (Hing Sees, 2002) Director: Riho Unt Based on the short story “Living Dolls” by Estonian writer Anton Hansen Tammsaare, “Having Soul” is the story of a little boy and his big dream – He imagines a world toy soldiers with souls, who laugh, cry, and even close their eyes when dying. |
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Brothers Bearhearts (Vennad Karusüdamed, 2005) Director: Riho Unt Ivan Shishkin’s painting “Morning in a Pine Forest” depicts three bear cubs. These same cubs just happen to be the hero of our story, when the ursine trio of Henry, Vincent and August inexplicably appear in Paris: the hometown of their creator. |
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North Dragon (Pohjakonn, 2007) Director: Riho Unt With the help of Põrguneitsi, the mythological virgin of hell, a young man saves the world. When he later comes to understand that he cannot change the nature of humanity, he leads the world to ruin again. |
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Program 3 Synopsis: The third and final part of the Euroshorts Estonia includes five ten-minute-long animation shorts: The Crow and the Mice, Primavera, Fox Woman, Insctinct and The Pearlman. The Crow and the Mice (Vares ja hired, 1998) Director: Mikk Rand, Priit Tender In this fairy-tale we find a mice and a crow, competing to resolve, once and for all, the question of which is more clever. |
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Primavera (2005)
Director: Riho Unt, Hardi Volmer Primavera is a unique blend of 3D puppets and animation. This family film is created in the “telescope system”, which uses heavily stylized images to combine the natural world with the world of animation. The result is a touching love story about the world as seen through the eyes of a butterfly larva. |
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Fox Woman (Rebasnaine, 2002)
Director: Priit Tender This 10-minute film is based on a legend of Mapuche Indians. It is the story about a fox that goes to heaven to visit her uncle but is cruelly cast down. In the film the personification of animals provides this slightly absurd legend with deeper social meaning. |
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Instinct (Instinkt, 2003)
Director: Rao Heidmets What happens when an artist loses control over his creation? This film is required viewing for those with an interest in human cloning, Artificial Intelligence, or good stories. |
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The Pearlman (Pärlimees, 2006)
Director: Rao Heidmets A smart leader can preserve a culture’s homogeneity for a long time, but ultimately he is helpless in the face of evolution. |