
Acting
Heino Mandri
Born 1922-09-11 · Kohtla-Järve, Viru County, Estonia [now Ida-Viru County]
Heino Mandri (September 11, 1922 – December 3, 1990) was an Estonian film and stage actor. Heino Mandri was born in Kohtla-Järve, but his family moved to Tallinn when Mandri was two years old. In 1946, Mandri graduated in the only class of the short-lived Tallinn Theatre School (1942–1946) set up during the German occupation to carry on the work of the former State School of Performing Arts which had been liquidated during the Soviet occupation in 1940. In 1948, Mandri was accused in anti-Soviet activities and sentenced for seven years of forced labor. From 1948 to 1954 he served the sentence in the Viatlag prison camp, Lesnoy, Kirov Oblast in Northern Russia. Mandri was released in 1954 and returned to Estonia, where the Soviet authorities forbade him to get closer than 101 km to Tallinn under the 101st kilometre rule. Mandri settled in Viljandi and worked in Ugala theatre. In 1956 Mandri wrote a personal letter to the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet Kliment Voroshilov, after which he got his sentence retroactively shortened to five years allowing him to enter Tallinn again. During the 1970s and 1980s, Heino Mandri casually appeared on Estonian national TV delivering his lines with impeccable command of the Estonian language. In Soviet films, Heino Mandri was usually cast as characters who were officers of the Wehrmacht, German businessmen, or American spies. Heino Mandri was acquitted of all political charges and fully rehabilitated in his rights only shortly before his death in 1990.
Acting credits
7.0It's 1940 - the first summer of the Soviet occupation on the Estonian island Saaremaa. Teenagers stepping in their lives have important decisions to make. Should they support the Soviet regime or join the resistance?
We Were Eighteen
1965
5.2The film is set during World War II. After capturing the "trophy" Mercedes, a group of scouts, disguised as German officers commits a daring raid behind enemy lines (the 116th Motorized Division) on roads controlled by the enemy.
Mercedes Runs Away from the Chase
1981
8.0Raivo Kotkas is the new head of the collective farm "Victory". His predecessor Mihkel Vutt has practiced command economy, production has gone down and the cattle has partly perished. Bookkeeper Olep is quite a crook who has played an essential role in the degradation of the collective farm - quite a few good workers have left work because of his cheating. Young agronomist Salme makes up her mind to leave the farm as well. The new chief wins the workers' trust and recovers their belief in the fruitfulness of their work.
Pöördel
1957
7.5Joonas and Tiidrik are two men from the island of Saaremaa who recklessly escape from the German prison during the First World War. Yet, there are no peaceful times in their home country neither.
Gladiator
1971
7.0Four Estonians who have escaped to Sweden during the war return to Soviet Estonia in the 1950s. The four saboteurs work for the Western Secret Service. Difficulties arise when they cross the border with an injured companion - the three have to decide what to do next.
Uninvited Guests
1959
9.5Ülo and Olev think the German occupation is humiliating and the soldiers are arrogant. But even among Estonians there are people who cannot be trusted - this can have fatal consequences. Witty schoolboys find out that Mr Velirand, who has moved in the apartment that once belonged to their teacher, is a henchman of Fascists. The boys make up their minds to give people warning about the provocator, even if the rebellion is risky and their opponent superior, as it had been in the St George's Night Uprising in 1343.
Fire in the Night
1973
7.0Pastor Paul Lempelius comes to the island of HIiumaa that seems to be like the world's end. While serving the pastorate of Reigi in spirit and in truth, Lempelius hopes to get rid of the burden of destiny. However, the local people favour pagan traditions and distrust the strict kingdom of God that Lempelius teaches them. The pastor's beautiful yet childless wife Catharina yearns for joy of life and tenderness that she won't receive from his husband. Instead, a young assistant pastor Jonas Kempe offers her his love. Their love, disregarding all laws, and the primal lifestyle of the islanders will become the touchstone for Lempelius' redemption.
The Pastor of Reigi
1978
7.0Taavi is worried about the lack of wind that won't let him do his daily job as a fisherman. But he is definitely not the guy who would just sit and wait for better days to arrive.
Lack of Wind
1971
6.1Torn by personal guilt, Italian General Umberto Nobile reminisces about his 1928 failed Arctic expedition aboard the airship Italia.
The Red Tent
1969
5.2Based on the novel “Ukuaru” by Veera Saar, a story about Minna, a young woman who has to make choices in the name of her true love, home, and the continuation of life.
Spring in the Forest
1974
Rich nephews and beautiful girls can not get married, especially when neither of them have actually seen each other.
Faulty Brides
1989
7.0Engineer Lembit with his construction team arrives at a small island to build a sheep farm. They are accommodated in the house of a middle-aged woman Marta and her daughter Kaja. The everyday routine will change when after some time everyone's controlled behaviour starts to change, expressing suppressed problems and yearning for warmth and love.
Rowan Gates
1981
4.7Sailing 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.
Forest Captain
1972
9.0When Estonian violinist Eduard Sõrmus starts his concert tours in Europe, he is convinced that the world revolution is about to begin. His mission as a Red Violinist is to call the proletariat around the world to join with the revolution. It is only two things - music and revolution - that Eduard has dedicated himself to. His audience is enchanted by his performance and ignited by his ideas. With this knowledge, he travels Europe between the two world wars, accompanied by his faithful friends, his audience's admiration and the hostility of the authorities.
The Red Violin
1975
7.4The "Fiery Arc" tells of a grandiose battle on the Kursk Bulge in the summer of 1943. Here was the largest tank battle in the history of World War II. Along with the personal fate of the heroes, the film shows battle scenes, the activities of headquarters and intelligence, those who worked at the front and in the rear.
Liberation - Part 1 : The Fire Bulge
1970
7.0Fascist Italy's prime-minister Mussolini is arrested following the Allies landing in Sicily. Meanwhile, Soviet troops plan their offense towards Kyiv. Lt. Col. Lukin's regiment crosses the Dnieper river as the division's vanguard. Unbeknownst to them, they're merely a ploy to mislead the Germans so the rest of the army can catch them off guard.
Liberation - Part 2 : Breakthrough
1970
8.0The love story of Liza Pesentak and the fearless patriot Melelave, who will go through a series of various trials before they find their happiness.
In the Time of the Law of the Wolf
1986
8.0No synopsis available yet.
Summer Games of Insects
1971
8.5Second world war. In one of the German intelligence schools are preparing sabotage groups of Russian prisoners of war for casting in the USSR. Among them — Nikolai Verezhnikov, who, not being a professional scout, was able to impose their own game and interfere with the plans of the enemy…
Exploded Hell
1967
6.0The film is about one of the greatest social hot spots in Estonia during the Soviet times when apartments were distributed by the state, telling the story of a real estate agent and a homeless man. Mass immigration in 1944-1988 led to demographic conflict. Free apartments were mainly given to immigrants despite the fact that local people badly needed places of residence as well. They are not tourists, they live here, but they haven't got a home.
I'm Not a Tourist, I Live Here
1989
A television film based on the short stories of the American writer O. Henry.
Two Couples and Loneliness
1984
7.0The story of Balthasar Russow, an Estonian pastor from the 16th century, his life and life's work - writing The Chronicle of Livonia.
Between Three Plagues
1970
8.5Police officer Jensen orders the evacuation of a leading media group's office building after a bomb threat is made. There won't be any explosion, however, the media group sustains big losses because of the work stoppage and the management requires investigation of the case. Officer Jensen identifies six suspects, then finds out that he is being followed himself, especially when he gets involved in the obscure activities of the mysterious 31st department.
Murder on the 31st Floor
1981
6.5This film is an humorous view on the conflict of pedestrians with all growing car traffic.
Pedestrians
1971