December Heat

It is difficult to evaluate an Estonian period film that has crossed the borders of its country only because EFI sent it to represent the Oscar foreign language film section. Unfortunately, the political events taking place in Tallinn at the beginning of December 1924 are not widely known, and an uninterested viewer only superficially follows the endless shootouts. There is no shortcut here that could bring an international audience to the plot. This best Estonian film did not succeed globally, but it is of course possible that it could appeal to individuals (probably Baltic scholars). (18/09/2023)