Arvo Iho

Directing

Arvo Iho

Born 1949-06-21 · Rakvere, Viru County, Estonian SSR, USSR [now Lääne-Viru County, Estonia]

Arvo Iho (born June 21, 1949) is an Estonian film director, cinematographer, actor and photographer, who has worked in the areas of documentary and drama. Born in Rakvere, Iho worked as a photographer and assistant for Tallinnfilm before studying cinematography at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography. Iho acted as assistant director to Andrei Tarkovsky on the 1979 film Stalker. He went on to work as a cameraman for Tallinnfilm in the 1980s. In 1985, Iho co-directed the feature film Games for School–Age Children with Leida Laius, also acting as director of cinematography, and in 1987 made his solo directorial debut with The Birdwatcher, about the relationship between a poacher and an ornithologist. He followed this with Only for the Insane (1990). In 2001 he made The Heart of the Bear, based on the Nikolai Baturin novel, and in 2006 made Gooseberries. As a photographer, Iho has exhibited nationally and internationally. As of 2017, Iho was a professor at Tallinn University's Baltic Film and Media School.

Acting credits

Behind the camera

The Bird Watcher poster
5.0

A young fanatic bird-watcher spends a summer on an islet in the Nortern-Sea with his assistant. Rough nature, hidden feelings.

The Bird Watcher

1988

Visions of Europe poster
5.3

Twenty-five films from twenty-five European countries by twenty-five European directors.

Visions of Europe

2004

Visions of Europe poster
5.3

Twenty-five films from twenty-five European countries by twenty-five European directors.

Visions of Europe

2004

Visions of Europe poster
5.3

Twenty-five films from twenty-five European countries by twenty-five European directors.

Visions of Europe

2004

Ta-ram, ta-ram poster
9.0

Nighttime at the tram depot. A closed tram car, from which a young businessman who fell asleep on the tram finds himself waking up. However, he is not alone...

Ta-ram, ta-ram

1995

The Heart of the Bear poster
3.2

A young Estonian goes to the Siberian Taiga to live as a hunter in a remote forest hut. He hopes to find his true self far from civilisation. The natives he meets introduce him to the myths of the north. The first is a young village teacher who wants to be a good wife to him. The second is a wild and untameable native who becomes his mythical bear-woman. When he accidentally kills a great black bear, his own shadow-creature, he burdens himself with guilt. However, he is given a chance of finding his inner balance. A romantic drama with mythical elements and breathtaking landscapes.

The Heart of the Bear

2001

The Heart of the Bear poster
3.2

A young Estonian goes to the Siberian Taiga to live as a hunter in a remote forest hut. He hopes to find his true self far from civilisation. The natives he meets introduce him to the myths of the north. The first is a young village teacher who wants to be a good wife to him. The second is a wild and untameable native who becomes his mythical bear-woman. When he accidentally kills a great black bear, his own shadow-creature, he burdens himself with guilt. However, he is given a chance of finding his inner balance. A romantic drama with mythical elements and breathtaking landscapes.

The Heart of the Bear

2001

The Gardener poster
NR

The film takes place on the day of the end of the Olympic Games, August 3, 1980. On the eve and during the Olympics, the Moscow authorities are "trapping" and expelling antisocial elements beyond the 101st kilometer. The avant-garde artist Boris falls into this category, he is taken to the police, from where he manages to escape. Boris hides in a village barn, where he is discovered by the 10-year–old son of the hostess, Anna.

The Gardener

2007

For Crazies Only poster
4.8

A young man is taken to a small town hospital after a suicide attempt. Rita is a beautiful married Russian nurse taking care of him.

For Crazies Only

1991

Milarepa laulud poster
NR

The film is based on the works of Milarepa, the most renowned Tibetan poet and Buddhist teacher of the 11th century. A young scholar and a student journey through the sacred sites of Buryatia and Mongolia, guided by a mentor on an exploratory expedition, seeking a path to self-discovery through Milarepa's philosophy and Buddhist culture.

Milarepa laulud

1989

Tracks on Snow poster
NR

Ants Jõgi (1892-1983) is a dignified gentleman whose main profession in life has been acting. He also has a spirit of an artist and an artisan. The 85-year-old man is lonely and has to go to a retirement home. Director Leida Laius' documentary tells a story about the life and work of the old actor as well as contemplates on the true values of life, old man's connections to the present and the past. The thoughts of the wise old man are enchanting with their simplicity and warmth.

Tracks on Snow

1978