Writing
Juhan Liiv, a struggling poet and an unlikely detective, solves gruesome murder cases in Estonia, the Wild West of the crumbling Russian Empire in the 1890s. Investigations take him to miserable dwellings of the local Estonian peasants, luxurious castles of German nobility that have sworn allegiance to the Czar, and to the depths of ancient forests where witchcraft is still practiced. Juhan is fighting crime and his own inner demons. He is considered mad and pronounced crazy. But by standing for justice and truth, at the end of the day, he is the sanest of them all.
Miina has grown up in a safe home environment. That can’t be said about her best friend, Liidia. Besides having a beautiful friendship and doing normal teenage things in the Soviet smalltown, there is some darkness to be faced. Everything begins to change when Liidia becomes influenced with a new arrival to town, a woman portraying what she aspires to be. A new, better and more confident version of herself, so that she could find a way out of her unsafe environment.
In his search for human connection, Leo attempts to meet up with a woman he found on a dating site but instead falls into a severe blackmailing trap set up by Karl, who has a criminal past.
The relationship between Kaspar and Marlen is far from floral. Kaspar's attempt to surprise Marlen with a flower one day is no help either, because there is no contribution from the girl. Driven by the momentary emotion, Kaspar decides to leave the plant to a new neighbor, who is a charming young girl.
28-year-old Stiina is a single mother raising her 9-year-old daughter Emma by herself. While Stiina is working, Emma is often left home alone. What Stiina doesn't know is that Emma has a friend that keeps her company and comforts her when bad things happen. What neither of them know, is that Emma's friend is actually more connected to them than they realise.
A rural 19th-century family hears a pop song from the future. The more they listen, the greater the cost — a tale of greed, blindness, and the treasures we fail to see.
Ten year old Lily has to play multiple roles at once, facing the questions of the adult world. It is often the children who know how to live life without making it overly complicated and see that the key to happiness lies in simplicity – whether it's the first rays of sunshine, a hug from a loved one, or a snowball fight.
The short documentary "Sugar" focuses on the sex industry in Estonia, exploring the topic from various perspectives. The film highlights several personal stories and reflects societal attitudes, providing an opportunity to understand how people experience this field and how personal choices, economic needs, and societal views affect those who make their living in the sex industry. It is a call to look beyond prejudices and grasp the complexity of the issue within the context of our everyday lives.
