| Goodbye Soviet Union | |
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| Directed by | Lauri Randla |
| Written by | Lauri Randla |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Elen Lotman |
| Edited by |
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| Production companies | |
| Release date |
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| Running time | 86 minutes |
| Countries | |
| Languages | |
Goodbye Soviet Union (Estonian: Hüvasti, NSVL, Finnish: Näkemiin Neuvostoliitto) is a 2020 Estonian-Finnish tragicomedy film and the first Ingrian film. It was written and directed by Lauri Randla.
Plot
Set during the final years of the Soviet Union, the film follows Johannes (Niklas Kouzmitšev), a young boy growing up in an Ingrian family in Soviet Estonia. Johannes's free-spirited mother (Nika Savolainen) is drawn to Western ideals, while his grandmother (Ülle Kaljuste) hopes to raise him as a loyal Soviet citizen. Amid the backdrop of Estonia's push for independence, Johannes navigates family tensions, his mother's emigration to Finland, and his first love with a Chechen girl named Vera (Elene Baratašvili).
Cast
- Niklas Kouzmitšev - Johannes
- Nika Savolainen - Mother
- Ülle Kaljuste - Grandmother
- Tõnu Oja - Grandfather
- Pääru Oja - Uncle Kolja
- Elene Baratašvili - Vera
- Jekaterina Novosjolova - Lidia
- Luule Komissarov
Production
The film was financed by Estonian Film Institute, Finnish Film Foundation, Eurimages, and Eesti Kultuurkapital, and was co-produced with Yle. Distribution in Finland was handled by B-Plan Distribution. Both Estonian Film Institute and the Finnish Film Foundation expressed strong early interest in the project. Notably, it became the largest single investment by Estonian Film Institute.
Reception
The film was initially slated for release in March 2020, but its premiere was delayed. Pre-screenings in June were met with high demand, selling out in parts of the Helsinki metropolitan area.
Reviews
The film received generally positive reviews, with praise for its humor and unique perspective on Soviet life.
| Rating (out of 5) | Reference |
| Karjalainen | 4/5 | |
| Me Naiset | 4/5 | |
| Helsingin Sanomat | 2/5 | |
References
- "The first Ingrian-Finnish film tackles Soviet life with humor | Audio Areena" (in Finnish). Yle. 2020-10-14. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
- ^ "Goodbye Soviet Union blends nostalgia with humor" (in Finnish). Yle Uutiset. 2020-10-14. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
- "Goodbye Soviet Union hits theaters after high anticipation". Estonian Institute in Finland. 2020-06-11. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
- "Film review: Goodbye Soviet Union". Karjalainen. 2020-07-09. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
- "Can Soviet-era hardship be funny? Absolutely!". Me Naiset. 2020-07-10. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
- "Overflowing with Soviet nostalgia". Helsingin Sanomat. 2020-07-10. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
External links
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