The film consists of three chapters. The Manslayer takes place more than a hundred years ago. The leading character Maara is a young bride who is about to start her life in her new family. The Virgin, set in the spring of 1949, tells the story of a young woman called Elina, who has been deported from Ingria into Estonia during the previous war. The Shadow moves in the present, on the border of real life and fantasy. The main character, Luna Lee, has decided to flee from home. Is there anything besides emptiness somewhere? The film is led by the singularity of the leading character - Maara, Elina and Luna Lee are all played by the same actress.
Acting
Rea Lest-Liik transforms across centuries without changing her face.
Cinematography
Estonian landscapes as psychological states, not backdrops.
Direction
Keedus makes 135 minutes feel like inherited memory.
Director
Sulev Keedus
Rea Lest-Liik
Maara (Manslayer) / Elina (Virgin) / Luna Lee (Shadow)
Jörgen Liik
Saska (Manslayer) / Youssef Castro (Shadow)
Toomas Suuman
Mito (Manslayer)
Üllar Saaremäe
Johorka (Manslayer)
Priit Pedajas
Hödor (ManslayerI)
Katariina Unt
Tato (Manslayer)
Katrin Pärn
Ode (Manslayer)
Eliann Tulve
Hökla (Manslayer)
Peeter Volkonski
Priest (Manslayer)
Õie Sarv
Nasta (Manslayer)
Peeter Jakobi
Bell-ringer Peetska (Manslayer)
Andrus Albrecht
Miha (Manslayer)
Margus Mikomägi
Kolja (Manslayer)
Andres Lepik
Ivvan (Manslayer)
Risto Vaidla
Heino Moss (Virgin)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Ingrian deportations in 1949 were a real Soviet operation displacing 20,000+ people; Elina's chapter is barely fictionalized history.
Rea Lest-Liik and Jörgen Liik are married in real life, adding layers to their toxic on-screen relationships across timelines.
EE
