The Stairway to Heaven (2023) is Mart Kivastik's film about a man who deals with a mid-life crisis and fear of death by escaping into the past. I really enjoyed this film. At times I didn't feel that I could predict what would happen next, or what the real dilemma of the main character's change of circumstances was. A film with a peaceful tone that carries the story through and doesn't sadden the viewer.
Watching the film, I felt a sense of dread at the prospect of middle age, but also a sense of anticipation to see the joy in the simple things that fill everyday life.
The protagonist (played by Mait Malmsten) and his wife (played by Harriet Toompere) were so simply but brilliantly embodied. The fact that both actors have gone through this phase in their lives and are husband and wife in real life probably contributed a lot to this. Ivo Uukkivi also gave a very memorable performance as the young Georg. There is a kind of inner serenity about him as an actor that is relaxing and trustworthy, even for someone who doesn't really know him in real life.
The biggest minus was the acting done by the young actors. Not that they were bad, but the old characters were so well portrayed that the contrast between young and old was sometimes the thing that took me out of the film.
