Novel - film - symbol

Acquaint yourself with the film contest and its winning films. How does the choice of both the contest’s film categories, as well as the winning films themselves, say about what the State of Estonia considers important? What aspects of Estonian culture and events in Estonian history are made prominent by such choices?

In the context of the one hundredth birthday of the Republic of Estonia, the story of little Leelo became more than the story of a “happy childhood” — it became a symbol and began to symbolize the story of many Estonian families, those who faced similar fates in the 1950s.

Discussion

Research whether any famous Estonian person, such as a film star, musician, politica, writer shares anything in common with the fate of Leelo’s family? Did the Soviet-era arrests and deportations also affect his/her? Tell this story!

• Who was repressed in his/her family?
• What were they accused of?
• What punishment was imposed?
• If the person was deported outside of Estonia, where were they sent specifically? Did they ever return to Estonia? Did the relatives who stayed put in the homeland keep in contact with the deported person? How do they remember the experience?
• Has his/her family preserved any letters from, or photos of, this person?

Alternatively, research the history of your family. Does your family’s fate share anything in common with the fate of Leelo’s family? Did the political arrests and deportations also affect you family? Tell this story!