The Fencer (2015)
This film came to my attention because, as a fencer myself, I follow ALL things fencing. It is also a foreign film directed my Finnish director Klaus Härö and features an Estonian cast. Therefore, it might be even lesser known to American audiences, even though it was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2016.
The Fencer is the fairly-accurately true story account of champion fencer, Endel Nelis who flees the Soviet authorities in the aftermath of the German defeat in WW2. He hides as a physical education teacher in the small town of Haapsalu, Estonia and finds the many children (many whom have had fathers that were killed during the war or imprisoned) are interested in Endel’s specialty, fencing.
The highlights were many, ranging from: location, cast, tone, and lighting. The film starts of brilliantly as you follow Endel as he steps off the train, walks into town, through the gate of the school and into his teaching position interview – only until he is in the interview do we see his face.
Endel Nelis is played by Estonian Märt Avandi and does a good (not superb) as the lead figure. There is very little range of emotions in Avandi’s character as he can best be discribed as quiet an unassuming; which, I guess plays well as he is a trying not to be found. The famous industry quote for actors warning them against acting against children or animals reigns true as two children, Marta (Liisa Koppel) and Jaan (Joonis Koff) steal every scene they are in, with the emotional climax of the film not being (in my opinion) at the end but between young Jaan and his grandfather.
Where I believe the story veers off-course occurs in two different scenes- one, the lackluster and cliché school meeting whereby the townspeople have to vote if Nelis’ fencing program should stay or go… and second, when in the final third it becomes the typical, David vs. Goliath, sport story-line that is likely NOT historically accurate, dispite Nelis’ daughter working on the film.
Overall, this is one of the few films where an audience gets a glimpse of Estonia (let alone, post-war Estonia) as well as this is the first film featuring modern fencing since …. hmmm… possibly By The Sword (1991).
Can anyone think of another? I’m hard-pressed to remember one.
The film sustains a high level of tension (in various aspects) and certainly keeps your attention.
Again, the wife and I agree that despite the great scenes with Jaan, and his grandfather (played by Lembit Ulfsak), the movie’s breakout star is….. MARTA!!! (see her cuteness below)
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Trailer:
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