The Class

Colour, 35 mm
Estonia, 2007, 97 min
IP – International premiere
Section: East of the West - Films in Competition

Synopsis

Introvert Joosep is the butt of crude jokes from his classmates who are irritated by his taciturn nature. The only support he has comes from Kaspar, whom he sits next to in class. Anders, the leader of a gang, steps up his behaviour towards both boys, taking things beyond the limits of human dignity. After a particularly repulsive incident, Joosep and Kaspar decide it’s time to take action. Things will never be the same again… The film is divided into seven chapters and takes place in an anonymous Estonian secondary school. This isn’t a sociological probe into the theme of adolescent bullying which might turn violently against the perpetrators, but more a universal reflection on the darker sides of the human soul, often hidden beneath an attractive exterior, ready to provoke an unexpected reaction under excess pressure. The acting performances of the leads, in particular, give the story – a linear progression where silly pranks develop into a tragic outcome – a highly credible dimension.

About the director

Ilmar Raag (b. 1968, Kuressaare, Estonia) studied in Paris and Ohio, USA, and debuted in 1998 with the film Killing Tartu (Tappev Tartu), which he predicted would be the worst film in the history of Estonian cinema. However, while it had a very low budget, the film proved to be everything the audience expects from a good film (an exciting story, witty dialogues, romance, fighting and special effects). In 2005 he made the television film August 1991 and, two years later, The Class. Raag demonstrates the breadth of his talent in films by his colleagues, where he also features as actor, screenwriter and producer (Karu Süda – The Heart of the Bear, 2001, dir. Arvo Iho).