Archive of films Free Range / Ballad on Approving of the World / Free Range / Ballaad maailma heakskiitmisest

Estonia
2013, 104 min

Section: Another View
Year: 2014

Fred is an impetuous young journalist and budding writer for whom personal freedom is of the utmost importance. Then suddenly he is forced to think seriously about what to do with his life, and whether and how to accept an unexpected responsibility. Shot on 16mm and supplied with a fabulous retro soundtrack, the original Estonian filmmaker pays tribute to the films of the French New Wave.


Synopsis

Fred is an impetuous young journalist and budding writer for whom personal freedom is of the utmost importance. But when he gets fired from the newspaper for an out-of-line review of Malick’s The Tree of Life, and his girlfriend informs him that she is pregnant, Fred is forced to think seriously about what to do with his life. Should he accept the unexpected responsibility? Through his main character, the original Estonian filmmaker poses certain questions: to what extent are people dependent upon our predominantly consumer-oriented society, and is it possible – and at what cost – to maintain one’s freedom and independence? Although the story is set in the present, Veiko Õunpuu achieves a pleasant retro atmosphere by means of grainy 16 mm film and a fabulous soundtrack of 1970s songs. Given the hero’s rebellious look and demeanor, Free Range / Ballad on Approving of the World is clearly referencing and paying tribute to New Wave cinema.

About the director

Veiko Õunpuu

Veiko Õunpuu (b. 1972, Saaremaal, Estonia) studied business management, literary theory and semiotics at Tallinn University, and painting at the Estonian Academy of Arts. In 2006 he shot the mid-length film Empty (Tühirand), which screened at numerous festivals. His feature debut Autumn Ball (Sügisball, 2007) took Best Film in the Orizzonti section at the Venice IFF. His second feature, the black-and-white parable The Temptation of St. Tony (2010), premiered in competition at Sundance and then hit the international festival circuit. At the Karlovy Vary IFF in 2010, the movie was awarded a Special Jury Mention in the East of the West competition. Free Range / Ballad on Approving of the World, the director’s third film, premiered in the Forum section at this year’s Berlinale.

Contacts

LevelK
Gl. Kongevej 137 B, 3rd floor, 1850, Frederiksberg
Denmark
Tel: +45 201 085 80
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.levelk.dk

Film Europe s.r.o.
V Jámě 1, 110 00, Praha 1
Czech Republic
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.filmeurope.cz

About the film

Color, DCP

Section: Another View
   
Director: Veiko Õunpuu
Screenplay: Veiko Õunpuu, Robert Kurvitz
Dir. of Photography: Mart Taniel
Editor: Liis Nimik
Producer: Katrin Kissa
Production: Homeless Bob Production
Cast: Lauri Lagle, Jaanika Arum, Laura Peterson, Peeter Volkonski
Contact: LevelK, Film Europe s.r.o.
Distributor: Film Europe s.r.o.

Guests

Eda Koppel

Film Institution Rep.

Kaarel Kuurmaa

Film Institution Rep.


Kristina Märtin

Film Institution Rep.

Marta Zych

Sales Agent


YouTube

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