05/03/2020 - The Estonian writer-director is poised to deliver a family drama that portrays the differences between three generations of men and will be released domestically on 18 September

Estonian writer-director Janno Jürgens has always been interested in exploring the various issues that a family can face, especially the differences and similarities between generations, and the fragile and delicate balance between love and hate. He has previously dealt with these subjects in his short films They Say Tomatoes Love Rock Music and Distance, which was selected for the Locarno Film Festival and travelled the world. In his debut feature, Rain [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which will premiere in Estonia on 18 September (previously 20 March but postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak), the helmer has taken a more comprehensive approach to his favourite theme.

The story follows teenager Ats, whose brother Rain, who is 20 years his senior, unexpectedly returns to the family home in a small seaside town. Here, he must confront his authoritarian father, Kalju, and his mother, a woman on the verge of falling out of love. Ats bears witness to the clash between his father and his brother, two stubborn men from different generations with radically different views of the world. When his father tries to keep Rain, who has lost his bearings, within the boundaries of his world, Rain finds hope in Aleksandra, a mysterious woman with a shady past.

Rain was co-penned by Jürgens and Anti Naulainen, who also co-wrote some of the director’s previous shorts. Portraying the title character, Estonian thesp Indrek Ojari also has his first main role in a film here, as does young Marcus Borkmann, who plays Ats. In the role of the father, Kalju, is acclaimed actor Rein Oja (Maria’s Paradise [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Zaida Bergroth
film profile]). The rest of the cast includes Laine Mägi, Magdalena Popławska, Meelis Rämmeld, Ivo Uukkivi and others. The film was lensed by well-known local cinematographer Erik Põllumaa (In the Crosswind [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Martti Helde
interview: Martti Helde
film profile]), and the production design is by Matis Mäesalu (November [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Rea Lest
film profile]). Poland’s Przemyslaw Chruscielewski (Corpus Christi [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Bartosz Bielenia
interview: Jan Komasa
film profile]) is handling the editing, and Latvia’s Artis Dukalskis (Jesus Shows You the Way to the Highway [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Miguel Llansó
film profile]) is responsible for the sound design.

Rain is an Estonian production by Kristjan Pütsep for creative production house Alasti Kino. The project was previously featured at the 2018 Black Nights Baltic Event co-production market in Tallinn, and has received support from the Estonian Film Institute and the Cultural Endowment of Estonia. After its local premiere, the film is expected to enter the festival circuit and is currently looking for an international sales agent.