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Äratus
Äratus
Directed by	Jüri Sillart
Written by	Rein Saluri
Cinematography	Mait Mäekivi
Edited by	Tiina Lokk, Marju Juhkum
Music by	Kuldar Sink
Production; company	Tallinnfilm
Release date	22 February 1990;
Running time	103 minutes
Country	Estonia
Languages	Estonian; Russian;

Äratus (English: Awakening) is a 1989 Estonian historical drama film directed by Jüri Sillart.^[1]

Plot

The film chronicles the lives of Estonian villagers during "Operation Priboi"; the 25 to 28 March 1949 Soviet mass deportation of more than 90,000 Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians labeled as "enemies of the people" to forced settlements in inhospitable areas of the Soviet Union.^[2]^[3]

Production

The manuscript of the film was written by writer and playwright Rein Saluri and presented to Tallinnfilm editor Tiina Lokk in late 1986 or early 1987. Lokk liked the manuscript, but was initially dissuaded by other employees at Tallinnfilm from pursuing the project. In 1989, the editorial board at Tallinnfilm granted Lokk permission to turn the manuscript into a film. Arvo Kruusement was the first choice to direct the film, however, he disliked the material. Jüri Sillart, who had worked as a cameraman and cinematographer up to that point in his career, showed an interest in the material and was hired as the director. Historian Mart Laar interviewed subjects who were deported to Siberia in the late 1940s for research and the manuscript was finalized on Hiiumaa by Saluri and Sillart.^[4]

The filmmakers later recounted that they were surprised that it was not difficult to make a film about the deportations during the end of the Soviet era. Russian conscripts were even hired from their military base at Tapa as extras in the film. When the film was completed, Lokk, Sillart, and Saluri took the film in a taxi to the All-Union Cinema Committee in Moscow for review. Neither Lokk nor Sillart remember any reproach by Soviet authorities there.^[4]

Cast

Tõnu Kark as Voldemar Rass
Sulev Luik as I Linnamees
Kaljo Kiisk as Mõistuse Jaan
Maria Klenskaja as Linnanaine
Jaan Rekkor as Peeter Kängsepp
Anne Paluver as Salme Peterson
Arvo Kukumägi as Kaarel Peterson
Väino Laes as Saareaugu Arnold
Ülle Kaljuste as Saareaugu Aliide
Mati Klooren as Richard Sass
Feliks Kark as Ants Tammemets
Katrin Kohv as Vennaru Linda
Rein Oja as II Vallamees
Hilja Varem as Nuudimäe Armelde
Elle Kull as Antsurahva Leida
Kaie Mihkelson as I Naine
Kaarin Raid as Maanaine
Hannes Kaljujärv as Komsorg

Accolades

Awards, nominations, participations:

1989: Monstra Internationale del Film d'Auttore (San Remo, Italy). Special Jury Prize
1990: Espoo Ciné International Film Festival (Finland). Nyrki Tapiovaara Award
1990: Riga International Film Festival (Latvia), Participation. Main Program
1990: Edinburgh International Film Festival (Scotland, UK). Participation, Main Program
2001: Baltic Film Festival (Gotland, Sweden). Participation, Main Program^[5]

References

^ "Äratus (1989) - Eesti filmi andmebaas". www.efis.ee. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
^ Kosk, Kaspar (29 May 2020). "Püha Jüri". Filmileht (in Estonian). Retrieved 5 January 2022.
^ Bayman, Louis; Pinazza, Natália (November 2018). Journeys on Screen: Theory, Ethics, Aesthetics. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. p. 16. ISBN 9781474421836.
^ ^a ^b Pullerits, Priit (25 March 2009). "Köitev küüditamisfilm valmis ülemuste vastuseisu kiuste". Postimees (in Estonian). Retrieved 5 January 2022.
^ "Festivalid, auhinnad, nominatsioonid". Eesti filmi andmebaas (in Estonian). Retrieved 5 January 2022.