Our Current Project "In Search of Our Fathers/Meie isade otsingul" has expanded.
This project consists of a series of films. “Bound by Struggle/Ühises võitluses” is the working title of our full-length feature film. We have several individual stories that would make powerful short films. Some of these will be released under the project Suurpõgenemine to honour the 80th year of the Great Baltic Escape of 1944.
Suurpõgenemine 80/Great Baltic Escape 1944
On this 80th year after the Great Baltic Escape, 1944, we honour our parents, each the only one of their families able to escape , and the many people who fled leaving their families, culture, language and homeland behind. Our work is based on the first-person accounts of people, born in free Estonia, who were forced to flee as the Soviets occupied their homeland. Some fled as children with their parents, some as young adults. From these interviews, we are creating short clips, to recognize the 80th year of the Great Baltic Escape.
Some of these stories will form the basis of our feature film, but we will honour the stories by creating short releases and a preview in 2024.
Bound by Struggle/Ühises võitluses
“Bound by Struggle/Ühises võitluses” is the working title of our full-length feature film. As of 2023, we have collected numerous stories from Estonian, Latvian, and Ukrainian men, to create this larger docudrama film series. Our aim is to tell the history of the Baltic nations within the context of Russian colonization – and Russia’s full-on invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Clear parallels can be found between current events in Ukraine and the experiences of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania during the 1940s. The chance to speak with these men, to record their memories and the truths they hold, is diminishing. As with the women's stories shared in our film "Patterns of Freedom/Vabaduse mustrid", we are aiming to bring an understanding of the Estonian/Baltic diaspora and its history to a wider audience.
This provides a unique opportunity to make sense of contemporary humanitarian and socio-political crises. It does this through the lens of the occupation of the Baltic nations from the Second World War onward and the current war in Ukraine, which unleashes greater destruction with each passing day. The timing of this project is critical. Your funding support will enable us to weave these stories together into a timeless narrative that viewers will appreciate for years to come.
Project In Early Development: "Osmussaar Bloodbath/Osmussaare veresaun" Rein Meri
In September 1941, the Estonian crew of the steamer Alf, carrying equipment for Osmussaar Island’s Soviet beach batteries, were forced ashore to help the island’s garrison. On September 22nd, Alf was destroyed by German artillery fire and its crew remained along with the crew of a smaller Estonian ship, Vohis. Some crew members from the two ships were sent off on a Soviet ship but did not return. Ten Estonian sailors were killed in a bloodbath, by the Soviets evacuating the island. Another Estonian died in a booby trap set by the Soviets. Jaan Meri tells the story based on his father's writings: an harrowing sequence of events, experienced by Rein Meri, one of the two sailors who survived Osmussaar.
Artist, Storyteller
Current Project: “Sketches/Joonised” Arne Roosman
Continuing the theme of cultural figures in exile, this documentary presents inspirational art perspectives through the story of artist Arne Roosman.
Arne was born in Tallinn, Estonia to a creative and fascinating family. His father Axel was a well-known graphic designer during Estonian Independence who fled Estonia with his family to avoid being forced to work for the Soviets. Arne followed in his father’s footsteps and became a graphic designer, studying in Sweden. In 1957, Arne came to Canada. For the past quarter century, he has lived and worked in Bancroft, Ontario. Arne's unique drawing style is reflected in the animations for his story – in fact, the animations are a collaboration between Arne and Tom, the digital artist/designer for this film.
Arne Artist Statement
“I see myself as a teller of tales, with a brush for a quill, sometimes bending ancient myths to suit my worldview. My output is spontaneous, drawing a passion, oil my preferred medium. Never found nor did I get stuck in what much art is about, a style, a convention, or the unconventional. Far from suffering the agony of Sisyphus, I am a drifter, happily pushing little round marbles up the slope of my slice of eternity.”
Concert and Jazz pianist
Future Project: "A Few Notes/Mõned noodid". Armas Maiste
Armas (Art) Maiste was born in Tallinn, Estonia on March 9th, 1929, and started his studies at the State Academy of Music before he was forced to relocate during the Second World War. This brought him to Stockholm and then to Montréal, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music from McGill University in 1972, where he was invited to teach his unique style.
Preliminary interviews with Armas have been conducted. This documentary is planned to celebrate the legendary life of the concert and jazz pianist, of which Maiste shared some unique personal anecdotes. Maiste performed live and in the studio with the likes of Carmen Miranda, Sammy Davis Jr., and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, as well as playing at the renowned Montreux Jazz Festival and North Sea Jazz Festival.
The initial impetus for this film was in collaboration with Arne Roosman, who drew sketches of a number of Armas's stories, as well as a portrait of Maiste. The style of this film has evolved over time and the final look and length of the film will be dependant on available funding.
Future Project: "Ragtag Army/Räbal armee" Fred Ise
This film follows the story of Fred Ise, on the same day that Fred, with his brother, and schoolmates raised the Estonian Flag on Pikk Herman tower as the Soviet army was retreating from Tallinn and the German army along with the. Estonian Kaitse Liit was approaching Tallinn. Having successfully raised the Estonian Flag, on August 28, 1941, Fred saw someone in an Estonian army uniform, and heard that volunteers were being called up to drive the Soviet army out of Western Estonia, which was still occupied. He was sent home, to get proper boots and clothing and managed to join a group of about 20 Estonian volunteers, under an Estonian officer, who were given Soviet rifles and British helmets and drove a truck out of Tallinn to “drive the Soviets out of Estonia!” This ragtag army story follows their adventures, as they managed to capture a group of Soviet soldiers until arriving home the next day, when Fred’s mother asks: “where have you been?” This is a charming story of naivety and courage and love of country that could have had a much more tragic outcome in the middle of a war between two occupying armies.
Click to view one of 12 videos in the Installation
Artwork Installation: Bound by Struggle/Ühises võitluses
Exhibited in Baltic Unity Exhibit, Society of Estonian Artists, Sept 31- Oct.3, 2023 Latvian House, Toronto. The artwork is available for exhibit in other venues.
Artists: Tom Mae and Reet Mae
Construction materials: Plywood base Cardboard boxes
Tea lights, Photo prints/ QR codes to film clips
A multi-tiered installation based on our work of recording Diaspora stories from the Baltic nations, the structure represents Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine.
The Russian Federation’s attack on Ukraine that started on February 24, 2022, Estonia’s Independence Day, mirrors the Soviet terror on the Baltics in WWII. Our intent is to tell these difficult and painful stories with the utmost care. The QR codes on the structure link to video moments of our work.
Empty cardboard boxes highlight the empty hands of those fleeing war, leaving everything – homes, belongings, families. Our parents had half an hour to decide whether to join a boat leaving secretly for Sweden in September of 1944, unable to notify their families, fleeing into an exile which lasted their entire lives. The current war in Ukraine is similarly creating refugees, separating families fleeing the terror and destruction of the Russian Federation. Yet, hope remains; for those fighting for Ukrainian freedom, as it did for our parents and those in the Baltic countries. The tealights symbolize mourning for the many losses in the Baltic states, and in Ukraine, but also reflect our hope for a peaceful future for Ukraine. The recognition that the Baltic countries are united in a common struggle with Ukraine, against Russian imperialism/colonialism, is built into the structure, tiers reflecting Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, undergird Ukraine. We stand together in support of Ukraine in Baltic Unity. May freedom and peace be restored. “Слава Україні”. Slava Ukraini.
Past Project: “Raising the Flag/Lipu heiskamine” Fred Ise
First film in the Series of Short stories In Search of Our Fathers.
This 12-minute short film of events over 5 hours in Tallin, August 28, 1941. It is a unique, historical first-person account of Fred Ise and a small group of youth, who in the moment the Soviet armies were fleeing Tallinn, and the German armies had not yet arrived, amid war and chaos, decided to raise the Estonian Flag on Pikk Hermann tower. They succeeded, if only for a few hours, symbolically declaring Estonia independent again.
This film was given as a joint gift by Mae Productions Inc. and the Estonian Studies Centre to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Estonian independence in 2018 (EV100).
Click the trailer below.
Past Project: "Patterns of Freedom /Vabaduse mustrid".
Leaving with nothing more than a fierce love of their culture and the traditional craft skills they possessed, generations of Estonians fled their homeland in 1944, fleeing the brutality of the advancing Soviet soldiers.
This feature length documentary film (in English and Estonian, with subtitles) focuses on the stories of women who kept the Estonian spirit and culture alive through hand-crafted textiles and the weaving patterns of their ancestors. This documentary was honoured by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia with the annual prize in the field of folk culture in 2015.
Please be in touch if you wish to arrange a free film screening to honour Suurpõgenemine80/Great Baltic Escape 1944 with your group or community.
Click the trailer below.
Past Project: "Kannel Stories/Kandle Lood" Alfred Kuus
This dual Video/CD project included a short film on the life of Alfred Kuus, one of Estonia’s best known kannel (psaltry) players, as well as a digitally remastered CD release of his recordings of traditional Estonian tunes. Alfred was well respected as a performer, kannel builder and teacher. His book on playing the kannel, is a treasure for those who learned to play under his guidance. Alfred played frequently at Estonian events both locally in Toronto and abroad. The Kannel Stories film premiered at 2010 EstDocs.