Estonian Film Institute
Not part of a collection.
Firebird
Risk everything, trust no one
At the height of the Cold War, a troubled soldier forms a forbidden love triangle with a daring fighter pilot and his female comrade amid the dangerous surroundings of a Soviet Air Force Base.
- Original title
- Firebird
- Language
- EN
- Country
- EE,DE,GB,US
- Budget
- —
- Revenue
- $253,583
CinemaSerf
Jun 5, 2022 · via TMDB
Sergey (Tom Prior) is a young private in the Soviet army based in Estonia. With only a few weeks of his service left, he is designated to look after the newly arrived pilot Lt. Matvejev (Oleg Zagorodnii). Initially very formal, the two begin to bond over their enthusiasm for photography and vodka. Soon, the two are lovers and treading a very dangerous path - not only could they face up to 5 years in a gulag somewhere, but the stigma attached to there activities would be career ending for both. Luckily, his/their friendship with the colonel's assistant Luisa (a sparing but strong effort from Diana Pozharskaya) serves to deflect the attentions of the suspicious KGB major Zverev (Margus Prangel), but well and truly spooked, the two must take self preservation measures resulting in the younger man leaving and moving to Moscow to become an actor, whilst his erstwhile boss stays put and marries Luisa. Neither man can forget the intensity of their relationship, and it isn't long before Matvejev is in on an assignment and the two men are all but living together. The arrival of his wife and child finally brings things to an head; sadly one ultimately leading to tragedy for all concerned. This is a true story, but though set in the Communist era could apply just as easily to so many other, supposedly more free, nations who banned same sex relationships or people who were gay from their military. To his credit, director Peeter Rebane manages to create quite an uncomfortable sense of peril in the production at the start. We do genuinely fear for the two as they explore their feelings for each other, and genuinely fall in love. Prior reminded me a little of Jonas Nay from "Deutschland 83" (2016) (though his well developed torso doesn't always look like it belongs to his head!); and he performs really well, managing to hold his accent together for the most part whilst instilling in the audience a real sense of the affection he has for his friend which is, in as practical a way as the man knows how to, but very genuinely, reciprocated. This is a well paced and scored film with some pretty potent and engaging dialogue, but in the end it is about the two men demonstrating how to fall in love in dangerous times. Insofar as the (brief) sex is between two men, it is a gay film - but more than that it is about love - the two men and Luisa - and about survival - and is really well worth a watch.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Fandango At Home
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Tom Prior
Sergey
Oleg Zagorodnii
Roman
Diana Pozharskaya
Luisa
Jake Henderson
Volodja
Margus Prangel
Major Zverev
Nicholas Woodeson
Polkovnik Kuznetsov
Ester Kuntu
Masha
Kaspar Velberg
Pilot Selenov
Sergei Lavrentyev
Drama Professor
Rasmus Kaljujärv
Pilot
Lauri Mäesepp
Pilot
Karl-Andreas Kalmet
Pilot
Vladimir Nadein
Young Conscript
Markus Luik
Sergeant Janis
Anatoli Tafitšuk
Mechanic Ivan
Nils Mattias Steinberg
Karamazin
Sten Karpov
Duty Officer
Carmen Mikiver
Army Doctor
Mihkel Kabel
Border Guard Popov
Ilja Toome
Radar Operator
Henessi Schmidt
Olga
Kaie Kõrb
Anna
Imre Sooäär
Theatre Director
Deni Yarovskiy
Ilya
Markus Habakukk
Guildenstern
Jaanika Arum
Bohimian Classmate Girl
Eduard Toman
Toastmaster
Britta Soll
Katya
Luule Komissarov
Kvas Lady
Timur Ilikajev
Busker
Eili Sild
Old Lady
Mari Lill
Old Lady
Anne Paluver
Train Attendant
Gerda Johnson
Neighbour
Thomas Edur
Choreographer
Alena Shkatula
Firebird
Anatoli Arhangelski
Koschel
Jevgeni Grib
Prince
Inessa Glazõrina
Princess
Toomas Zupping
Dressing Prop
Eva-Maria Gramakovski
Production Design
Franka Vakkum
Production Design
Kalju Kivi
Production Design
Franka Vakkum
Property Master
Tiiu-Ann Pello
Set Decoration
Leo Lätti
Storyboard Artist
Triin Tenso
Digital Imaging Technician
Mait Mäekivi
Director of Photography
Carlos E. Lesmes
First Assistant Camera
Péter Kollányi
First Assistant Camera
Rasmus Kosseson
First Assistant Camera
Rein Pruul
Focus Puller
Kailo Sinivee
Grip
Taivo Soobard
Grip
Pelle Vellevoog
Jimmy Jib Operator
Maksim Podolski
Key Grip
Triin Tenso
Second Assistant Camera
Janar Volmer
Steadicam Operator
Siim Kaarel Saluri
Steadicam Operator
Egert Kamenik
Underwater Camera
Gunnar Laal
Underwater Camera
Mare Raidma
Costume Design
Kristiina-Hortensia Port
Costumer
Adele Thele Robam
Key Costumer
Jennifer Õun
Makeup Artist
Kaia Pihlak
Makeup Artist
Erkki Tikan
Armorer
Kristjan Pütsep
Special Effects Technician
Rasmus Puksmann
Special Effects Technician
Enar Tarmo
Stunt Coordinator
Neil Tennant
Thanks
Pietro Scalia
Thanks
Stephen Fry
Thanks
Martti Helde
Crowd Assistant Director
Peeter Rebane
Director
Karin Martinson
First Assistant Director
Kertu Köösel
Second Assistant Director
Piret Toomvap-Schönberg
Third Assistant Director
Moonika Raidam
Assistant Editor
Tambet Tasuja
Editor
Andrus Ilp
Electrician
Jako Krull
Electrician
Janar Hakk
Electrician
Kristjan Tenso
Electrician
Taivo Soobard
Electrician
Alvar Kõue
Gaffer
Taivo Tenso
Gaffer
Béatrice Kruger
Casting
Hiie Fluss
Casting
Piret Toomvap-Schönberg
Extras Casting
Peeter Rebane
Producer
Tom Prior
Producer
Tapio Liukkonen
Foley Artist
Krzysztof Aleksander Janczak
Original Music Composer
Matis Rei
Sound Designer
Jan Andresson
Sound Recordist
Matis Rei
Supervising Sound Editor
Al Wallcat
Script Consultant
Tanel Toom
Script Consultant
Tiina Lokk
Script Consultant
Sergey Fetisov
Story
Peeter Rebane
Writer
Tom Prior
Writer
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