In-Person Screening: Sunday, November 6, 6:30 pm

Director Jaak Kilmi will present a Q&A following the screening of the film.

Virtual Screening: November 6-13

SLEEPING BEAST, THE (Tagurpidi torn)
Jaak Kilmi, Estonia/Latvia, 2022
101 minutes, In Estonian with English Subtitles
North American Premiere

On a small Estonian housing estate, 10-year-old Kristjan (Nils Jaagup England) is the leader of his gang of friends. To while away the sleepy summer days, the children amuse themselves by exploring an abandoned estate, getting up to various mischief typical of their age. Though they are once chased away by the elderly security guard Elmar (Andres Lepik), the children choose to ignore him as well as their parents’ concerns about the dangers of the estate, and return – a decision that leads to an accident. Kristjan is now faced with a moral dilemma – does he go against his friends and help Elmar, or does he keep quiet and maintain the status quo? The Sleeping Beast is a gritty tale about childhood, and how naivety and innocence are pitted against questions of morality and responsibility.

"The Sleeping Beast is a wonderfully executed and realized tale of childhood that strips away some of the more saccharine elements that can often overwhelm coming-of-age stories to create a sometimes dark, yet ultimately hopeful, fable rooted in reality." - Laurence Boyce, CINEUROPA

Festival History
Giffoni International Film Festival
Lucas International Children's Film Festival
SCHLINGEL International Film Festival
Filem'On Film Festival
Cinemagic Belfast FilmFestival

Tags: Estonia, Family (12+), Coming of Age