Rent The Fencer (2015)
3.8 of 5 from 135 ratings
1h 34min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Klaus Haro's "The Fencer" is a touching true life drama about Endel Nelis, a young man who arrives in Haapsalu, Estonia, in the early 1950s. Having left Leningrad to escape the secret police, he finds work as a teacher and founds a sports club for his students. Endel becomes a father figure to his students and starts teaching them his great passion - fencing, which causes a conflict with the school's principal. Envious, the principal starts investigating Endel's background... Endel learns to love the children and looks after them; most are orphans as a result of the Russian occupation. Fencing becomes a form of self-expression for the children and Endel becomes a role model. The children want to participate in a national fencing tournament in Leningrad, and Endel must make a choice; risk everything to take the children to Leningrad or put his safety first and disappoint them. - Actors:
- Lembit Ulfsak, Kirill Käro, Märt Avandi, Liisa Koppel, Kai Nordberg, Ursula Ratasepp, Maria Avdjushko, Joonas Koff, Kaarle Aho, Hendrik Toompere Sr., Raimo Pass, Piret Kalda, Kaie Mihkelson, Tõnu Oja, Svetlana Doroshenko, Jaak Prints, Paul Laasik, Carmen Mikiver, Egert Kadastu, Kaspar Tõnisson
- Directors:
- Klaus Härö
- Producers:
- Kaarle Aho, Kai Nordberg
- Writers:
- Anna Heinämaa
- Aka:
- Miekkailija
- Studio:
- Spirit Entertainment Limited
- Genres:
- Drama, Sports & Sport Films
- Countries:
- Estonia
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- Not released
- Run Time:
- 96 minutes
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Reviews (6) of The Fencer
Almost a ten out of ten! - The Fencer review by JR
Beautiful cinematograhy and very well acted. The children are presented unsentimentally, and the dramatic tension is strong although it is a quiet and thoughtful film dealing with the tragedy of the fall out from WWII. The love story is tender and believable. I loved it right up until the last climax of a David v Goliath fencing match when it became a bit cliched . But I could forgive that when the rest of the film was so good.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
A real treat - The Fencer review by BY
On the one hand you could say this was a predictable formulaic movie with baddies, goodies, a bit of romance, cute children and a feel good ending - but Sound of Music it ain't!
This was a really unusual film tackling a sad period in the history of Estonia when the Soviet occupiers hunted down those whom they thought had collaborated with the Nazis. Using fencing as a theme is I think unique: I certainly can't think on any other film where this has been done.
The production and cinematography were excellent and gave the film an authentic feel.
This is the first time I have ever seen a film focused on Estonia and it was a truly informative experiencing.
To sum this film up in a few words: enjoyable, entertaining, interesting, informative. What more could you ask for?
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Worth Watching - The Fencer review by TE
There's plenty to enjoy in The Fencer, particularly the careful set-up in the first half of the film.
The atmosphere of the school is very well created, with its mixture of Stalinist repression and glimpses of possible changes just around the corner.
Much of the film's promise is lost, however, in a determinedly 'feel good' finale at the tournament in Leningrad. It all becomes a bit too sentimental and predictable.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.