To underline its straight art-house core, the film is shot in black and white and features a motley international cast, although the plot unravels in Estonia.
The film tells the story of an introverted middle level manager, played by Õunpuu regular Taavi Eelmaa, who is facing an ever increasing burden of emotional problems and finally cracks under them. Õunpuu's original script was presented with the European Talent award for best script at Cannes in 2008.
The reported budget of the film is just over 1 million EUR. The film was shot in co-production between Homeless Bob Producion of Estonia (www.too.ee), ATMO of Sweden and Bronson Club of Finland. Estonia contributed 65%, Sweden 21% and Finland 14% of the budget. The film has yet to set its international festival premier, as well as international sales and distribution deals. It was screened behind close doors at this year's Cannes market.
Õunpuus's debut feature Autumn Ball won the Venice Horizons grand prix in 2007 and went on to pick up 38,000 admissions at domestic box office and 14 more prizes at festivals, a major feat for an art house picture that landed it on the 9th spot in Estonia's box office of that year.
Credits:
Original title: Püha Tõnu kiusamine
Director: Veiko Õunpuu
Writer: Veiko Õunpuu
DoP: Mart Taniel
Art design: Markku Pätila (FIN), Jaagup Roomet
Original score: Ülo Krigul
Sound design: Janne Laine (FIN)
Editing: Thomas Lagerman (SWE)
Costume: Jaanus Orgusaar, Helen Ehandi, Aldo Järvsoo
Make-up: Kaire Hendrikson
Production manager: Kaido Kivitoa
Producers: Katrin Kissa, Homeless Bob Production
Co-producers: Kristina Aberg, ATMO (Sweden), Jesse Fryckman and Tero Kaukomaa, Bronson Club, (Finland).
Principal cast:
Tony- Taavi Eelmaa
Nadezhda- Ravshana Kurkova (RUS)
Tony's wife- Tiina Tauraite
Actor- Hendrik Toompere
Actor's wife- Katariina Lauk
Tony's boss- Harry Kõrvits
