Directing

Jaan Tooming

Born March 28, 1946 · Tallinn, Estonian SSR, USSR [now Estonia]

Died April 5, 2024 · aged 78

Jaan Tooming (March 28, 1946 – April 5, 2024) was an Estonian actor, theatre and film director and writer. In 1968 he graduated from the Tallinn State Conservatory (now, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre). From 1969 to 2009 he was an actor and stage director in Vanemuine theatre in Tartu.

Known For

Endless Day

Endless Day · 1971

Among Tooming's filmic works, Endless Day provides perhaps the most eloquent material for investigating the radical renewal of visual and narrative form, as well as the shifting registers of spatio-social portrayals and critiques in Estonian cinema. It was banned in 1971 and ordered to be destroyed. However, the film was retained and restored in the 1990s.

Grisha

MovieDocumentaryTV Movie

An up-close look into the life of the often misunderstood movie director Grigori Kromanov through the lens of old friends and colleagues.

November

November · 2017

MovieDramaFantasy

In a poor Estonian village, a group of peasants use magic and folk remedies to survive the winter, and a young woman tries to get a young man to love her.

Colourful Dreams

Colourful Dreams · 1975

Colourful Dreams

Little Kati spends her summer at her grandma's. Her playmates are the village boys and the whole countryside - animals, flowers, the wind and stones. Kati conjures up the sun and floats above the fields of flowers and the whole universe. There is no borderline between reality and the magic world. Is it possible to play the same game also at her home in the city?

Daisy Petal Game

Daisy Petal Game · 1978

Daisy Petal Game

A three episode film consisting of three short films: "Promenade", "Poacher" and "Tattoo". The action of the films takes place in the 1930s in Estonia.

Teekond mäe südamesse

Teekond mäe südamesse · 1984

Teekond mäe südamesse

MovieDocumentary

In a short film about his brother, actor and director Jaan Tooming, Peeter Tooming transports him from between theater decorations to nature, a village street, a field, a forest, a waterfall, a rocky seashore. Actor Jaan Tooming recites thoughts from his plays that match his state of mind.

Between Three Plagues

Between Three Plagues · 1970

Between Three Plagues

The story of Balthasar Russow, an Estonian pastor from the 16th century, his life and life's work - writing The Chronicle of Livonia.

The New Devil of Hellsbottom

The New Devil of Hellsbottom · 1978

The New Devil of Hellsbottom

MovieDramaTV Movie

Jaan Tooming's adaptation of the novel by A.H. Tammsaare.

Filmography

Sort

Endless Day

Endless Day · 1971

Among Tooming's filmic works, Endless Day provides perhaps the most eloquent material for investigating the radical renewal of visual and narrative form, as well as the shifting registers of spatio-social portrayals and critiques in Estonian cinema. It was banned in 1971 and ordered to be destroyed. However, the film was retained and restored in the 1990s.

Director

Grisha

MovieDocumentaryTV Movie

An up-close look into the life of the often misunderstood movie director Grigori Kromanov through the lens of old friends and colleagues.

November

November · 2017

MovieDramaFantasy

In a poor Estonian village, a group of peasants use magic and folk remedies to survive the winter, and a young woman tries to get a young man to love her.

Devil

Colourful Dreams

Colourful Dreams · 1975

Colourful Dreams

Little Kati spends her summer at her grandma's. Her playmates are the village boys and the whole countryside - animals, flowers, the wind and stones. Kati conjures up the sun and floats above the fields of flowers and the whole universe. There is no borderline between reality and the magic world. Is it possible to play the same game also at her home in the city?

Director

Daisy Petal Game

Daisy Petal Game · 1978

Daisy Petal Game

A three episode film consisting of three short films: "Promenade", "Poacher" and "Tattoo". The action of the films takes place in the 1930s in Estonia.

Screenplay

Teekond mäe südamesse

Teekond mäe südamesse · 1984

Teekond mäe südamesse

MovieDocumentary

In a short film about his brother, actor and director Jaan Tooming, Peeter Tooming transports him from between theater decorations to nature, a village street, a field, a forest, a waterfall, a rocky seashore. Actor Jaan Tooming recites thoughts from his plays that match his state of mind.

Between Three Plagues

Between Three Plagues · 1970

Between Three Plagues

The story of Balthasar Russow, an Estonian pastor from the 16th century, his life and life's work - writing The Chronicle of Livonia.

First Assistant Director

The New Devil of Hellsbottom

The New Devil of Hellsbottom · 1978

The New Devil of Hellsbottom

MovieDramaTV Movie

Jaan Tooming's adaptation of the novel by A.H. Tammsaare.

Director

The Broken Horseshoe

The Broken Horseshoe · 1973

The Broken Horseshoe

MovieMysteryCrime

French aeronaut Jules Ardan, traveling in a hot air balloon, accidentally finds himself in Reval. Here he meets Dr. Peterson and his daughter Leida. The gendarmes are hunting for Leida's fiance. The banker's son is being murdered in the city. Suspicion falls on Peterson. Jules Ardan takes over the investigation of the crime.

Carl Schmidt