IT
A powerful blend of overwhelming emotions, intricate stories, and gripping subplots. A film that explores life, death, hope, and love in a whirlwind of emotions that kept the #giffoners glued to the screen. Morten, directed by Ivan Pavljutskov and competing in the Generator +15 section at the #GiffoniFilmFestival, tells the story of Morten, a teenage boy who lives with his uncle and his mother, who is often away for work. His relationship with his classmates is complicated, and he frequently finds refuge in photography, a passion to which he is deeply devoted.
Morten often meets Emilie, a girl who seems almost unreal, at the edge of a swamp, where they engage in deeply meaningful conversations. Soon after, he meets Miia, a girl he falls in love with, but things quickly take a complicated turn. The film is an exercise in pure introspection, a beautiful journey through the depths of the protagonist’s soul, as he wrestles with doubts about himself and the world around him.
At the end of the screening, the audience had no shortage of questions and reflections. The director was visibly moved by the reactions of the #giffoners: “I’m deeply touched by your reactions. Screenings are usually much quieter, so thank you so much!”
There was great curiosity about the film. The first to speak was Kariya: “I was incredibly impressed by the calm pace of the film. It really invited us to follow the protagonist’s life in a way that felt different from the other films we’ve seen. It was the perfect way to end the festival. Could you tell us about the creative and technical process behind it?” The director replied: “I’m very happy that you noticed that. Originally, we wanted to make the scenes much more dynamic, but we realized that approach didn’t really suit the story. The actor delivered an incredible performance. Ever since I finished my studies, I’ve wanted to make a film like this. It took me eight years to reach this point of inspiration. I drew inspiration from a well-known Estonian novel and adapted it to a contemporary setting. I’m glad you appreciated it.”
The second question came from Elisa:“Congratulations on the film. I really loved the duality between Emilie as a dreamlike figure and Morten. I’d like to know more about that.” Pavljutskov responded: “There are many layers behind that dynamic. I’d actually love to hear your own interpretations. Emilie could represent Morten’s inner world.”
Mayla then asked: “I really liked how the dreamlike dimension keeps the film away from the usual coming-of-age clichés. I also appreciated that Morten wasn’t portrayed as a one-dimensional character. And why did you decide to include a queer character?” Pavljutskov answered: “In Estonia, this isn’t discussed very often, but I don’t want to label the character as ‘queer.’ Rather, they are someone on a journey of self-discovery and self-awareness.”
The film deliberately leaves many questions unanswered, inviting viewers to interpret its themes through their own personal perspective. In doing so, it becomes a springboard for countless reflections that each of the #giffoners in attendance is likely to have made about themselves and their own inner world.