Fränk

While travelling to Tallinn this summer and saw the advertisment for Fränk and was happy to find out it has English subtitles. Knowing nothing about modern Estonian movies I had no expectations but I was really impressed and touched by what I saw.

It's a great story giving everyone a chance to reflect on some of their own behaviour towards others, especially if talking anger you can't explain.

Watching the movie, this unsettling feeling keeps growing inside of you, drawing you into the life of characters.

Additionally worth mentioning very esthetic videography that helps to intensify the story even more.

Tõnis Pill's Fränk, set in a small Estonian town in the early 2000s, follows Paul (Derek Leheste), a troubled youngster from a broken home, whose bad decisions lead him toward self-destruction. His life begins to change when he meets Fränk (Oskar Seeman), a kind-hearted disabled man whose quiet wisdom helps Paul see things differently.

What makes Fränk stand out is its honesty. Pill doesn't sugarcoat youth - the kids swear, sniff glue, drink alcohol, and fight - yet beneath all that chaos lies a strong sense of empathy. The film shows what it's like to grow up surrounded by violence, bullying, and neglect, but also reminds us that kindness, like cruelty, can be learned. This idea gives the film its emotional power.

The acting, especially from the young cast, feels very real. Leheste shows Paul's vulnerability with quiet strength, while Seeman's calm and caring presence softens the film's darker moments. Cinematographer Peter Kollanyi captures the world of small-town Estonia beautifully, using soft colours, handheld shots, and natural light to make the story feel intimate and authentic.

Although the story may seem familiar, Pill's sincere direction and touches of humour make it fresh and moving. The dialogue feels natural, and the characters feel true to life. Fränk can be difficult to watch at times, but it ends with a sense of hope - showing that friendship and compassion can break even the hardest cycles.

Both painful and uplifting, Fränk is one of the strongest Estonian youth dramas in recent years, proving that even in the darkest moments, a little light can still shine through.

This is my first Estonian movie and I have to give it credit for being expertly crafted if not exactly original. A story about boys and the effects of broken homes, violence, absent parents and just plain bad parenting on the young kids, it is both sad and tragic but also maybe a bit hopeful. The acting of the young cast is perfect as well as the adults. I have seen stories like this before and the only new angle added here is the introduction of a mentally challenged man. His character seemed to represent multiple things in the story, though none are completely clear. My biggest problem with the movie, which I did overall enjoy, is that at times it seemed a bit contrived. Some characters actions or non-actions, were written in a way that seemed designed to advance the plot even if they didn't quite make sense. This is fairly serious drama, so don't expect the feel good movie of the year.

I admit it is a well made film which shows more than tells etc., but it is also really ugly and disturbing and uncomfortable and gross. That´s the goal, it will not show you pretty things or events, the beauty is under the surface in the peace and healing found though softly glimmering moments of understanding and acceptance.

If you have ever experienced violence or trauma, the unspoken psychological angst will be both familiar and unbearable. But it is also hopeful and encouraging, reminding us that our tomorrow is a continuous active choice not something inevitable that we passively accept. So even if it is hard, stick it out because it will be ok. Kudos to the young actors who ploughed through the nasty and the gross with such aloofness and thuglike charm.

Also I want to point out there is a really cool cat in this movie, and that animals need their own category in movie awards.