Film Archive

Cherry Tobacco

East of the West - Competition 2014 / Kirsitubakas / Estonia 2014

By the end of vacation, 17-year-old Laura is bored off her rocker. Only an offer to spend a few days visiting a peat bog rouse her from her lethargy. At first she’s none too thrilled by the overabundance of nature, nor in like manner by Joseph, the rather roughneck leader of the adventure. The unconventional lover of pipe tobacco gradually piques Laura’s interest, and it seems like the attraction is mutual. First love can come unexpectedly and in a rather unusual form.

Synopsis

Summer is gradually drawing to a close and 17-year-old Laura is feeling jaded. There’s a guy interested in her, but she just finds him silly; while both their families would love them to get together, Laura finds the idea exasperating. An unexpected offer to go hiking in the country for a few days to discover the wonders of the peat bogs provides her with a welcome opportunity to escape the mounting monotony as the holidays draw to a close. Initially, Laura isn’t exactly enthused by the overabundance of nature, nor by the somewhat rough-edged team leader Joosep. Nevertheless, the unconventional pipe tobacco smoker begins to stir her interest and the feeling appears to be mutual. First love catches Laura unawares, and in a rather unusual way at that. This joint feature debut by directors Katrin and Andres Maimik returns to the fragile yet painful period of adolescence, first love and first disenchantment. A sensitive film which demonstrates with humour and compassion that human relationships are never that simple or straightforward.

About the film

93 min / Color, DCP
World premiere
Director Katrin Maimik, Andres Maimik / Screenplay Katrin Maimik, Andres Maimik / Dir. of Photography Mihkel Soe / Music Sten Sheripov / Editor Marta Pulk, Andres Maimik / Producer Anneli Lepp / Production Kuukulgur Film / Cast Maris Nõlvak, Gert Raudsep, Getter Meresmaa, Anne Reemann, Aap Salumets / Contact Kuukulgur Film

About the director

Katrin Maimik (b. 1982, USSR) studied drama theory at the University of Tartu (2005) and screenwriting at Tallinn University’s Baltic Film and Media School (2013). She scripted and co-directed several shorts, the documentary Old Fish (Vanad kalad, 2010), and the feature films The Photo (Foto, 2013) and Silver Wedding (Hõbepulm, 2013). She regularly works with Andres Maimik (b. 1970, Estonia), a journalist and versatile filmmaker who scripts, directs and edits. He completed his documentary film studies at Tallinn University’s Teaching Faculty in 2009. His filmography includes around a dozen features and documentaries which have been successful both in local distribution and at foreign festivals. Cherry Tobacco (2014) is the directing duo’s first feature.