Stories of the Livonians

Stories of the Livonians

1991 · 31 min · Documentary

Livonians are among the smallest Finno-Ugric nations still existing today. They are the closest kindred people to Estonians and Livonian language is the closest one to Estonian language. Currently, there are only a few dozens of speakers of Livonian language left and even for them Livonian is not their native tongue. However, there are about 200 people who consider themselves as Livonians; most of them live in Riga, Ventspils and Kūolka, Latvia. Livonian coast in Courland (Kurzeme in Latvian) once had twelve villages inhabited by Livonian people - now there is no one left there who would fluently speak the language. Only a few people can speak the story of their small nation in their own native language. The documentary has been filmed in 1988 and 1990 in Livonian villages on Courland peninsula and in Riga, Latvia. Archival materials dating back to the years of 1940 and 1966 have been also used in the film.

Directed by Enn Säde

Your Rating

Make it a double feature

1h 55m together

Stories of the Livonians

Landing

Both from Enn Säde.

More from Enn SädeSee all →

American Mountains

American Mountains · 1994

American Mountains

MovieComedyCrime

A former goldminer who has run afoul of the law is made an unusual offer by the mafia. The power of money and popularity among women won't let him step down from the rollercoaster in order to make the right decisions.

Landing

Landing · 1973

Reet loves her long-distance coxswain husband Rein, but the long separations have tortured her. It seems to her that the man cares more about his work than about her. Rein really loves his work, but his wife just as passionately. He does not understand how loneliness can overwhelm Reet, when women have always been waiting for men from far away. Their family friend Mart loves Reet and cannot see her suffer. It is in Marti's power to offer Reet a safe life, and the woman plagued by internal struggles makes a choice, but happiness seems to slip even further away.

An Unusual Story

An Unusual Story · 1974

An Unusual Story

MovieCrimeThriller

A young investigator fresh from the university gets assigned an arson case. 18-year-old Epp-Kai has admitted to the crime but he cannot see the girl's motive. His partner, an experienced investigator, already has enough work and doesn't think it's necessary to have further conversations with the accused. The young investigator senses however that Epp-Kai is hiding something.

Wild Violets

Wild Violets · 1980

MovieActionDrama

It is the year 1947. The war is over but Estonian forests are still hiding armoured men. When the message comes that Western spies will arrive to support the local bushwhackers, security officer Rein Taim starts to lead the counter operation of the Communist Secret Police in order to catch the Western diversionists and the leader of the Estonian bushwhackers.

The Winds of the Milky Way

The Winds of the Milky Way · 1978

The Winds of the Milky Way

MovieDocumentary

Sequel to the "The Waterfowl People". The author interprets the kinship, linguistic and cultural relationships of the Finno-Ugric peoples. Finns, Vepsians, Votes, Setos, Erzya-Mordvinians, Mansi, Hungarians, Sami, Nganasans, and Estonians appear in the film. The film was shot in 1977 on location in northern Finland, Sapmi, Vepsia, Votia, Mordovia, Khantia-Mansia, Hungary, the Taymyr Peninsula, the Setomaa region in Estonia, and on the Estonian islands of Saaremaa and Muhu. Footage was also shot in 1970 in the Nenets Okrug. The second documentary in Lennart Meri's "Encyclopaedia Cinematographica Gentium Fenno - Ugricarum" series.

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?

Bumpy

MovieFamilyFantasy

Brother and sister Kusti and Iti get lost in a forest while picking strawberries and are captured by an evil forest hag. They are made to work for her. The hag has a son called Bumpy whom Iti befriends. When they get a chance to escape, they decide to take Bumpy with them.

The Sounds of Kaleva

The Sounds of Kaleva · 1986

The Sounds of Kaleva

MovieDocumentary

A three-act film-essay about memory and the historical-cultural ties of the Finno- Ugric peoples. The first chapter is dedicated to ancient Bearese of memory, such as Karelian cliff drawings, Kalevala runo song and Khanty bear feast rituals. the second act portrays the visit of Elias Lonnrot, compiler of the Finnish national epic Kalevala, to Estonia and his meetings with local intellectuals. Part three re-enacts an ancient smelting and blacksmith ritual set to Veljo Tormis' cantata 'curse upon iron'. Filmed in 1985 in Uhtuo, Karelia; in Khantia-Mansia at the Agan river, a tributary of the Ob; and in Estonia (Tallinn, Kuusalu, Tartu, Voru, Litsmetsa in Voru county, Lullemae, Karula, Rongu, Narva, and at a bend of the Pirita river). The third documentary in Lennart Meri's "Encyclopaedia Cinematographica Gentium Fenno - Ugricarum" series.

Smile at Last

Smile at Last · 1985

MovieDramaFamily

16-year-old Mari, raised without a mother by a drunkard father, is put in an orphanage which she immediately, though unsuccessfully, tries to flee from. The sensitive Mari finds it hard to adapt to the coarse manners and brutal games amongst the children. Only gradually does she develop a sense for the similarly difficult fates of her fellow sufferers, who have long forgotten how to cry. She even falls in love for the first time, not with her self-appointed “protector” Tauri, but with the rough-mannered Robi.

Christmas in Vigala

Christmas in Vigala · 1981

Christmas in Vigala

MovieDramaHistory

The Christmas of 1905 in Vigala is not a peaceful holiday. The manor house has just been pillaged during the peasant's revolt; the air is full of smoke of fire and there is the premonition of inevitable punishment. Bernhard Laipmann is a tenant farmer whose wife is asking him to leave home since her husband keeps drawing the attention of the authorities. Having doubts about leaving, Laipmann is inspired by endeavouring towards freedom and equality and alarmed by the violence of the revolution.

Karoliine's Silver Yarn

Karoliine's Silver Yarn · 1985

Karoliine's Silver Yarn

MovieFamilyFantasy

Karoliine is a spoiled and selfish princess who will meet swamp ogres and sleep fairies, a mermaid and a werewolf on her journey. A bunch of robbers will take her to their cave. Despite having a smart and helpful guide Kaspar with her, Karoliine has to get rid of her selfishness and inconsideration towards others. She is gradually becoming braver and good-hearted that will eventually lead her to the presence of real love.

Nest of Winds

Nest of Winds · 1979

Set in the post-war years when sovietization was still being resisted by partisans, often at the expense of a farming population intent on rebuilding.

Forest Captain

Forest Captain · 1972

Sailing to South America, the sailing ship "Fortuna" gets stuck in a calm in the middle of the Atlantic. Heat and thirst drive the team crazy, knives are already flashing and the wind is being conjured in the darkness of the night. Captain Kihnu Jõnn has to tame desperate men and trade with heavenly forces in order to bring the ship's crew to the destination port, who want to leave him there.

Koduküla

Koduküla · 1969

MovieDocumentary

Pictures of Estonian village life in the second half of the 20th century. Against the backdrop of the seasons, people in the countryside are working their farms. Mostly these are old people. Villages are becoming empty and old farmhouses are falling apart.

Edison's Disco

Edison's Disco · 1980

MovieDocumentary

Heino Pedusaar (born in 1931) was a sound director in Eesti Raadio. He has collected old audio records all around Estonia. For already twenty years he has been actively involved in restoring Estonian cultural heritage. Filmmakers follow his trip to Mooste in Põlva county and observe his skillful work in restoring old audio records.

Vicious Animal

Vicious Animal · 1982

MovieDocumentary

Toad, the primeval inhabitant of the earth. One of the first living creatures who dared to venture from sea to land and some of whose species are now finding their way to the books of endangered species. Who are they really, these witch's creatures?

More Like This

Couldn't load this row right now.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter