Äratus

Almost forgotten and always overlooked haunting film about deportation of Estonian citizens by Soviet authorities in 1949. The film is important not only because it is the first Estonian (and overall) film that depicts deportations committed under Soviet regime, but it also shows how much part Estonian hanger-ons played in these atrocities. In that sense the film is well balanced - there are cruel and brutal government workers and there are those who are haunted by their ugly deeds, there are innocent victims of deportation and there are people who tried to play on both sides and got burned.

This film is the first of it's kind, but no other film came after that has never been so brutal. By that I don't mean much on screen physical violence, but more psychological aspects. There are many quiet moments with no dialogue or narration when we just see characters looking out of the window or staring at the distance, and the pain in their faces are telling more than words - we know there can be no happy ending.