Estonian-Laotian-French film 'Dearest Sister' hits theaters in April
Award-winning horror film "Dearest Sister," a joint Estonian-Laotian-French project, will be shown in Estonian movie theaters beginning April 21.
"Dearest Sister" is a unique horror film set in Laos about a middle-class Laotian woman who is losing her eyesight, her marriage with an Estonian expat businessman and a tangled relationship behind which is a relative who came to care for the woman who wants a better life in the capital and will not back down from lies or manipulating her employers to maintain it. The film also reflects social and gender inequality and colonialism still rampant in Laos today.
The film’s leading roles are played by Laotian pop musician and model Vilouna Phetmany, debut actress Amphaiphun Phommapanya and Estonian actor Tambet Tuisk. The author of the film, only the 13th in Laos’ cinematic history, is Mattie Do, Laos’ first and currently only woman film director.
"Dearest Sister" was shot in Laos, for which the Estonian production and shooting team were largely responsible. The film’s Estonian producers were Helen Lõhmus and Sten-Kristian Saluveer (Oree Films), with cinematography by Mart Ratassepp, music by Sten Sheripov, art direction and costume and wardrobe by Helen Lõhmus, sound mixing by Tanel Tänna, post-production supervision by Uku Toomet (Orbital Vox) and additional music by Rando Arand.
The film has received a great deal of international attention, having been screened at 22 film festivals around the world to date, including Austin’s Fantasti Fest and the BFI London Film Festival. "Dearest Sister" has also won awards at the Sitges Film Festival and the Fantasporto film festival in Portugal.
Editor: Aili Vahtla