THE FENCER by Carol Kaufman Segal

            The Fencer begins with some background information in order to offer an understanding of the situation that faces Endel Nelis as he arrives in Estonia in the early 1950’s.  During World War II, Nazi Germany occupied Estonia and recruited most of the men into the German army.  Later, when Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union, the government considered all German soldiers war criminals and proceeded to seek out any, including those in Estonia, and to imprison them.

            A young Endel Nelis (Mart Avandi) is one of those men and he flees Leningrad for Estonia to escape the secret police. He finds a position as a teacher and forms a sports club for the students offering them instructions in fencing, a sport for which he has a passion.

            The School Principal (Hendrik Toompere) is jealous of Endel and objects to what he is accomplishing with the children and tries to have the club removed from the school agenda.  However, the townspeople vote in favor of allowing it to continue, and the irritated Principal begins an investigation of Endel.

            Most of the children have lost their male relatives due to the actions of the          Russian government, but they have formed a loving relationship with Endel and he with them.  When his student, Marta (Liisa Koppel), hears about a national fencing tournament being held in Leningrad, she asks him about the club participating.   When Endel tells her it is not possible for them to attend, she and the students, in their disappointment, think that he does not think them qualified.  

            Meanwhile, his friend Aleksei (Kirill Karo) cautions him against ever returning to Leningrad.  Torn between seeing the children disappointed and hurt, or risking his life by going to Leningrad, Endel is left to make a choice.

            The Fencer is a stirring drama directed by Klause Haro  The screenplplay, written by Anna  Heinamaa, was inspired by the true story of Endel Nelis, Estonia’s legendary fencing master  A marvelous cast also includes Ursula Ratasepp  (Kadri, Endel’s love interest), Joonas Koff (Jaan, a student), and Lembit Ulfsak (Janaan’s grandfather).

           

Running time, 99 minutes          Estonian and Russian with English subtitles          Not rated

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