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Tõnu Virve

Tõnu Virve

Art

Biography

Tõnu Virve (June 18, 1946 Rõuge – October 1, 2019 Tallinn) was an Estonian theatre and film designer and artist, producer and director. In 1974 he graduated from the Estonian State Art Institute in theatre decoration speciality. 1975–1980 he was the principal artist at Estonian Youth Theatre. 1980–1990 he was an artist-director at Tallinnfilm. In 1990 he established the independent film studio Freyja Film (ERSFF).

Known For

Dead Mountaineer's Hotel
6.2

The police get a call-out to a lonely hotel in the Alps. When an officer gets to the hotel everything seems to be alright. Suddenly, an avalanche cuts them off from the rest of the world and strange things start happening.

Dead Mountaineer's Hotel

1979
Lurich
7.3

Georg Lurich was a world-famous Estonian professional wrestler in the early 1900-s who became a legend already in his lifetime. He was called not only the world's best technique-wrestler but he was also a sports-philosopher, health and temperance activist, an efficient sports manager, a talent in acting, writing and chess, a "world's citizen" who spoke more than ten languages and an athlete with enormous popularity. At least 14 wrestling clubs in Europe and USA carried his name. This film is an unpretentious attempt to recall that unique man, the first world-famous Estonian.

Lurich

1984
Surmatants
7.0

A historical costume drama where the fragments of the adventurous lives of Bernt Notke, one of the most influential Late Gothic painters, and carpenter Michel Sittow are brought together by the story of the panel painting "Danse Macabre" by Notke and the way the painting reached Tallinn, Estonia from Lübeck.

Surmatants

1991
The Smacking Sea
7.5

The Smacking Sea is a film about the work of traditional seal hunters on the smacking Baltic Sea and their life in the coastal village.

The Smacking Sea

1981
Smile at Last
6.1

16-year-old Mari, raised without a mother by a drunkard father, is put in an orphanage which she immediately, though unsuccessfully, tries to flee from. The sensitive Mari finds it hard to adapt to the coarse manners and brutal games amongst the children. Only gradually does she develop a sense for the similarly difficult fates of her fellow sufferers, who have long forgotten how to cry. She even falls in love for the first time, not with her self-appointed “protector” Tauri, but with the rough-mannered Robi.

Smile at Last

1985
Wild Violets
8.0

It is the year 1947. The war is over but Estonian forests are still hiding armoured men. When the message comes that Western spies will arrive to support the local bushwhackers, security officer Rein Taim starts to lead the counter operation of the Communist Secret Police in order to catch the Western diversionists and the leader of the Estonian bushwhackers.

Wild Violets

1980
Ask the Dead About the Price of Death
5.8

The attempted coup of Estonia on Dec. 1, 1924, conducted by Comintern, staged by the Soviet Communists, failed and resulted in many lost lives on both sides. The Communists were forced underground.

Ask the Dead About the Price of Death

1977
The Adventurer
4.8

Toomas Nipernaadi is seen roaming the rural landscape, going from village to village looking for the woman of his dreams. He wears a bedraggled white suit but generously pays for any lodging he needs or in one case, even buys a farm. Nipernaadi has a way with words and enchants those he meets with his wild stories about himself. Women find him appealing and the men are entertained as he moves from one locale to the next.

The Adventurer

1983
Luukas
8.0

The highlight of Elsbet's and Albert's day is their son's visit. Every day, the old couple serves festive dinner to Lucas in a cozy dining room decorated with lots of flowers. Lucas is content only when the best food and expensive drinks are served. He patronizingly accepts his parents' care and enjoys eating one delicacy after another until he will finally feel sick. The parents have to prove that the food is not poisoned; so they have to taste all the food that they usually won't share with their son.

Luukas

1992
Two
N/A

Based on the novella "Mustaja Love" by Estonian writer Arvo Valton. Residents of large modern cities are often unfamiliar with their neighbors, even though they have lived under the same roof for many years. The film's protagonists, a man and a woman who dream of having a family and children, live very close to each other. They could easily have met and fallen in love. All their dreams could have come true, but the meeting of two lonely hearts never happened.

Two

1987
Monument
N/A

The documentary depicts monuments and heritage artwork that have been closely related to the history of the Republic of Estonia. Estonian sculptors, former political prisoners, social scientists and art historians share their memories in the film. Why do we need our monuments? What kind of attitude has been towards Estonian monuments and heritage artwork during the changing times in local history? Memorial columns can be victims of ideology. Estonia has been governed by several state authorities during the 20th century, all of them have left their own monuments. The destiny of numerous military monuments in East-Europe has become a current issue.

Monument

2008
Evald Okas
N/A

The documentary portrays artist Evald Okas: an exceptional painter and a diverse graphic artist, a virtuoso drawing artist and creator of thousands of ex libris. Okas was a honorary member of Florence Art Academy, author of numerous book illustrations and master of papercuts, he has practised glass painting and ceramic art. He has been called as the Picasso of Estonian art. 94-year-old Okas tells the story of his colourful life, casts light upon his artwork and reveals the secrets of his principles of working. Tireless artist radiates zest for life and reflects affection towards creative life and looks back at his life with warm humour. Hotblooded passion of creation has never left the grand master.

Evald Okas

2009