Spring (1969 film)

Spring (Kevade) is a 1969 Estonian film directed by Arvo Kruusement and is a film adaptation of Oskar Luts' popular novel of the same name. The movie placed first place in the Estonian feature films top ten poll held in 2002 by Estonian film critics and journalists. In 1970 the movie sold 558,000 tickets in Estonia, then nearly half of the country's total population of 1.36 million and 8,100,000 in the Soviet Union in 1971. The film was re-released in Estonia on 13 April 2006.

The film was shot in Palamuse, which was the prototype area of Oskar Luts' "Paunvere". It was followed by three sequels: 1976's Summer (Suvi), 1990's Autumn (Sügis) and 2020's Winter (Talve), all of which included original actors from this film.

Synopsis
The film is based on the short story of the same name ("Kevade") by Estonian writer and philosopher Oskar Luts, and takes place in an Estonian village at the end of the 19th century. The story focuses on the children of the village over the course of one academic year. The majority of the plot and character development takes place in the spring, culminating in first love, friendships, and other coming-of-age emotions.

Cast

 * Arno Liiver as Arno Tali
 * Riina Hein as Raja Teele
 * Aare Laanemets as Joosep Toots
 * Margus Lepa as Georg Aadniel Kiir
 * Ain Lutsepp as Tõnisson
 * Leonhard Merzin as Teacher Laur
 * Kaljo Kiisk as Kristjan Lible
 * Rein Aedma as Jaan Imelik
 * Kalle Eomois as Kuslap
 * Raul Haaristo	as Vipper
 * Heikki Koort as Peterson
 * Heido Selmet as Visak
 * Endel Ani as Sacristan aka Julk-Jüri
 * Tõnu Alveus as Lesta
 * Ita Ever as Arno's mother
 * Silvia Laidla as Köögi-Liisa
 * Ervin Abel as Papa Kiir