The director has long established himself as a short film and commercials director but has waited for years to get a his hands on a full-length feature.
The reported budget of 416,000 EUR is modest even by Estonia's standards. The film is produced by Manfred Vainokvi of Filmivabrik, Tuisk's long-time collaborator and previous partner in a joint advertising production company. Also unusually for Estonia, the film is shot mostly with domestic funding, with some MEDIA money for development. The film was chosen for the Focus on World Cinema section at this year's Montreal World Film Festival.
The picture tells the story of a boy called Hannes, a pushed-around weakling suffering from school harassment and lack of parental love, and his uncle Madis, a former boxer and lifelong criminal just released from prison. The two link up as Hannes is looking for a father figure in his life, and the boy turns out to be a master manipulator. Hannes's manoeuverings lead Madis back to crime culminating with a tragic bank robbery.
Tuisk's short film Family business (2003) won the Best Short award at Mannheim-Heidelberg International Filmfestival.
www.pangaroov.com
Credits:
Original title: Pangarööv
Director: Andrus Tuisk
Script: Mihkel Ulman
DoP: Manfred Vainokivi
Art design: Manfred Vainokivi
Original score: Vaiko Eplik
Costume: Anu Lensment
Make-up: Tiina Leesik
Sound Recording: Mart Kessel-Otsa
Production Manager: Marju Lepp
Producer Manfred Vainokivi, Filmivabrik
Principal cast:
Madis - Hannes Kaljujärv
Hannes - Henri Kuus
Milvi - Karin Tammaru
Lagle - Marilyn Jurman
Hannes' father - Indrek Taalmaa
Hannes' mother - Marika Barabantshikova
