Pääru Oja

Acting

Pääru Oja

Born 1989-05-16 · Tallinn, Estonian SSR, USSR [now Harju County, Estonia]

Pääru Oja (born May 16, 1989) is an Estonian stage, film, voice, and television actor. Pääru Oja was born in Tallinn, the youngest of two sons. His father is actor Tõnu Oja and his older brother is Estonian Theatre Festival CEO and theatre manager Kaarel Oja, who is married to actress Ursula Ratasepp. His uncle is actor, director and theatre instructor Rein Oja. He attended primary and secondary schools in Tallinn before being accepted to the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in Tallinn, where he graduated from in 2012 under course supervisor Elmo Nüganen. Oja's diploma roles included Father of Toulon in Peter Barnes' Red Noses (2010), Joseph Wykowski in Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues, and Argante in Molière's The Imaginary Invalid (2011). Among his graduating classmates were: Henrik Kalmet, Karl-Andreas Kalmet, Priit Pius, Märt Pius, Liis Lass, Piret Krumm, Maiken Schmidt, and Kaspar Velberg.

Acting credits

Sisu: Road to Revenge poster
7.3

Returning to the house where his family was brutally murdered during the war, "the man who refuses to die" dismantles it, loads it on a truck, and is determined to rebuild it somewhere safe in their honor. When the commander who killed his family comes back hellbent on finishing the job, a relentless, eye-popping cross-country chase ensues.

Sisu: Road to Revenge

2025

Our Erika poster
5.0

The inspiring journey of Estonian track bicycle racer Erika Salumäe, as she navigates the pressures of fame, personal sacrifice, and national pride, redefining resilience in the pursuit of her Olympic dreams.

Our Erika

2026

Vinski 2 poster
NR

The town of Hömpstad is once again under threat from criminals and Vinski's help is needed. When the criminals manage to steal the invisibility powder for themselves, Vinski has a real showdown on his hands.

Vinski 2

2026

The Kidnapping of a President poster
NR

In October 1930, a group of officers belonging to the Finnish army's top leadership decided, after a night of drinking, to kidnap Finland's retired first president, Ståhlberg. The Finnish people were divided in the aftermath of the civil war, and the political atmosphere was turbulent and tense. However, the kidnapping went wrong right from the start when the incompetent henchmen recruited for the job were forced to take the president's stubborn wife, Ester Ståhlberg, with them.

The Kidnapping of a President

2026

No artwork available
NR

Narrates one episode of the Estonians' ancient struggle for freedom, Estonia's chess victory over the Crusaders in the Battle of Ümera in 1210

On the Ümera River

Hit Big poster
5.6

Marjaleena, a 60-year-old drunk ex-beauty pageant, runs a low end bar in Spain’s Costa del Sol. She discovers that her criminal husband Worm is about to get out of jail and is planning a dream life with his new cell-mate lover. Together with an uncanny crew Marjaleena sets off to get her share of her husbands millions.

Hit Big

2022

1944 poster
6.9

The events of the war in 1944, from the Blue Hills to Sõrve Peninsula. Shown through the eyes of Estonian soldiers who had to pick sides and fight against fellow brothers. Choices have to be made, not only by the soldiers, but also by their loved ones.

1944

2015

One-Dimensional Man poster
4.0

Raul's father Viktor, a Soviet-era Estonian militia officer, shaped his son with communist ideology. Raul was raised in a violent and pathological attitude of the despotic father, blindly driven by the ideology. Driven by his jealousy of his wife and her bohemian lifestyle, Viktor, being a high ranking KGB officer, stated her as a predator against the Soviet nation, and one early morning she is taken by KGB agents to an unknown destination.

One-Dimensional Man

2025

The Shadow poster
6.4

Juhan Liiv, a struggling poet and an unlikely detective, solves gruesome murder cases in Estonia, the Wild West of the crumbling Russian Empire in the 1890s. Investigations take him to miserable dwellings of the local Estonian peasants, luxurious castles of German nobility that have sworn allegiance to the Czar, and to the depths of ancient forests where witchcraft is still practiced. Juhan is fighting crime and his own inner demons. He is considered mad and pronounced crazy. But by standing for justice and truth, at the end of the day, he is the sanest of them all.

The Shadow

2024

Säde poster
NR

Tristan, a single father in his thirties, has spent the past few years in prison for causing a house fire which seriously injured his little daughter. On the day of his release and return home he aims to meet and ask for the forgiveness of his 8-year-old daughter Säde whom Tristan hasn't seen since the accident. After arriving in his hometown, Tristan is overcome by guilt as he realises he can't mange to face the consequences of his wrongdoing. His plan to turn a new page backfires, and before long, it seems that every step he takes only makes things worse

Säde

2017

Helene poster
6.2

Year 1915. Helene Schjerfbeck lives as a forgotten artist with her elderly mother in the countryside. It has been years since the last exhibit, and Helene continues to paint only because of her passion. Everything changes when art dealer finds Helen and her 159 wonderful paintings - and wants to organize a big private exhibit. However, Helen's turning point comes only when she is introduced to Einar Reuter. Young Einar is a forester, art enthusiast, and a passionate admirer of Helene's work. He becomes Helen's trusted and lover.

Helene

2020

The Spy and The Poet poster
5.2

Lonely secret service officer Gustav meets a mysterious gypsy woman. It soon comes clear that it is a trap set by the Russian intelligence. Gustav is ordered to continue the relationship to get a better understanding of the enemy's plans. Unfortunately, Gustav finds himself struggling with the task, as he is falling in love with the enemy. Is there a way out of this situation?

The Spy and The Poet

2016

Between Covers poster
NR

In the snowy and secluded Estonian forest, Marti lives his life through routine. Haunted by his past bad judgement, he has become distant and lifeless. Kalev, an old local shopkeeper and a friend to Marti, tries convincing Marti to let go of the past and move on. Due to an unexpected event and Kalev's persuasiveness Marti finds himself on the verge of a new beginning. After his routine trip to the shop, Marti finds a young woman Irene at his doorstep. Marti, although hesitant, invites her inside for a tea. It doesn't take Marti long to realize Irene is not who she says she is. Torn between the past and present, Marti finds himself in a cul-de-sac. Meanwhile, Kalev is alarmed by two men parked outside his shop and is certain of their bad intentions. Marti knowing of the sinister plot in motion, has to finally come to terms with himself or suffer the consequences.

Between Covers

2018

The Last Ones poster
4.5

Tundra of Lapland, Finland. Rupi, a young man who fills his days dealing and drinking, works in a mine hoping to raise enough money to escape the desolate village where he lives.

The Last Ones

2020

Dawn of War poster
6.1

A historical spy-thriller set in 1939 about an Estonian intelligence agent tasked with uncovering the Soviet double agent in their ranks.

Dawn of War

2020

Goodbye Soviet Union poster
5.5

Johannes, a young Ingrian Finn, grows up in Soviet Estonia with his liberal student mother and pro-Soviet grandmother. The boy's life is revolutionized when he experiences first love and his mother decides to leave for Finland.

Goodbye Soviet Union

2020

Look What You Made Me Do poster
6.0

Ingmar is a narcissist with relationship issues and repeatedly manipulates and emotionally abuses his partners creating a cyclical panern of behavior.

Look What You Made Me Do

2020

Sad Inheritance poster
NR

A theatre director and his father clash over portraying abuse in a rehearsal, reflecting conflicting approaches in directing actors and their real-life strained relationship.

Sad Inheritance

2024

Mihkel poster
5.8

Mihkel boards a ferry from his small town in Estonia to Saint Petersburg in Russia, on his way to Iceland, where he wants to make a new life for himself and his fiancée, Vera. His friend Igor, who emigrated to Iceland a few years earlier, convinces Mihkel to smuggle two bottles of liquid amphetamine and then seek payment from an 
Estonian priest, who is a business partner of Igor’s in Saint Petersburg. The priest is then to set him up in his new home and bring Vera over to join him. Rather than getting paid, he is instead coerced into swallowing seventy drug capsules to take on to Iceland. He arrives in Iceland and is picked up by Igor and his two Icelandic accomplices, Jóhann and Bóbó. However, in the next two days it becomes clear that something is wrong and Mihkel cannot pass the drugs. The Icelandic criminals become very nervous, and more and more frantic activity ensues as the situation becomes more serious.

Mihkel

2018

Kid Detectives and the Secret of the White Lady poster
3.3

In a quiet resort town Haapsalu four kids are spending their summer holidays together. Suddenly they are dragged into events that started in the 15th century in the local bishop's stronghold. The children must solve a difficult mystery of a clock robbery and they have to find a treasure that has been lost for centuries and contains a formula of making gold.

Kid Detectives and the Secret of the White Lady

2013

The Riddle of Jaan Niemand poster
5.0

After ten years of war, plague and famine, the land is swept clean of people. The few remaining souls are scattered about, living in misery and lacking hope. An anxious silence hangs over the land. On one particularly starry night, two peasants find a stranger on the seashore.

The Riddle of Jaan Niemand

2018

Christmas in the Jungle poster
6.0

Moving from Latvia to exotic Indonesia has proven to be quite a challenge for Paula’s (10) family. Her Mother has a hard time adapting to the country. Her sister, Kate (14), is entering puberty, and her Father’s workaholic nature is causing tension in the family. Luckily, the local boy Akhim (12) offers a ray of hope by telling Paula about special Shaman living in the jungle who has a superpower to bring Christmas everywhere. That must be Santa Claus himself! Kids join on a joyful adventure to find Christmas in the Jungle!

Christmas in the Jungle

2020

The Suitors poster
NR

Young Lydia, who has unexpectedly received two declarations of love from two different young men, travels to the countryside to visit good friends to put her heart in order. Instead of the hoped-for peace, however, she finds herself in a whirlwind of passionate events. The most beautiful girl in the village, Maie, is standing, just like her, between two suitors – the honest mulk Märt and the lying Enn. Her heart is drawn to Märt, but her greedy father Peeter refuses to acknowledge Märt because of his old hatred for the mulks. Thus, Koidula's creative quest and the village's love affairs intertwine into one colorful story.

The Suitors

2026

Faulty Brides poster
7.0

The owner of the Lipuvere farm decides to marry his daughters off to wealthy suitors from the Mulgi Parish. However, the hearts of the girls already belong to local boys, with whom a plan is forged to get rid of the troublesome grooms.

Faulty Brides

2023