The Shadow/Vari

Single Film Pass, Passes, Estonia, 2025 Virtual Festival Lineup, Streaming In North America

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Available on 3/3/2025 1am EST
A gripping thriller about a silenced poet who dares to dream of the freedom of his homeland. “My sun doesn’t recognize me; the night is left to me,” in 1894 wrote the legendary Estonian poet Juhan Liiv, whose haunting words captured both the despair and hope of a nation under Russian rule. In these dark and oppressive times, a secret hope begins to take root in the hearts of Estonians—the dream of independence. Liiv’s poetry, filled with patriotic fervor and the yearning for freedom, made him a dangerous figure in the eyes of the authorities. Branded a persona non grata, he was committed to a psychiatric clinic in Tartu, silenced for daring to dream of liberation. Pääru Oja delivers a stunning performance as Juhan Liiv, a man grappling with false accusations, treacherous allies, and his own deteriorating mental health. Through the shadows of his bleak homeland, guided by inner whispers and his devotion to helping Mari, Liiv fights to keep his dreams alive. Amidst the chaos, he continues to write, defying the very forces seeking to suppress him, and imagines a freedom that was, at the time, unspoken—even in poetry. By Edvinas Puksta

Most Estonians recognize the heartfelt song “Ta lendab mesipuu poole / He Flies Towards the Honey Tree,” an enduring staple of the country's Song Festivals. Yet, few know the story of its lyricist, Juhan Liiv—a sensitive and deeply poignant poet from the early 1900s, whose work was shaped by struggles with mental illness. Alluded to in the film, this poem has been set to music and is sung at the national Song Festivals as a powerful song of mourning, resistance, and hope. It is also inscribed on the Tallinn monument to the victims of communism.

This performance from the 2019 Estonian Song Festival brings Liiv's words to life with unparalleled passion. Even without understanding the lyrics, you’ll feel the music’s emotional power resonate in your heart.


Translation of the lyrics:

She flies from flower to flower,

she flies to the beehive;

she flies from a thundercloud

she flies to the beehive


Thousands will fall on the way

but thousands will reach home

carrying worry and care

for they fly to the beehive


Soul, oh soul, oh grievous time

longing for the homeland

whether at home or in a foreign land

yearning still for the homeland!


Let the winds of death blow against you

let the death bullets fly against you

you will forget death and care

and still fly to the homeland!


Soul, oh soul, oh grievous time

longing for the homeland

whether at home or in a foreign land

yearning still for the homeland!