28.11.2023 | Culture

Movie shedding light on youth mental health to premiere in Tallinn

Text Mark Taylor
Photo Promo

On December 12, the domestic premiere of the award-winning Estonian short movie “Obsession” will take place at the Film Museum in Tallinn. Tickets for the red carpet premiere of the movie, which tackles the subject of youth mental health, are available to buy at Fienta.

The movie centres around the main character Angelina, and her struggles with abandonment as a young child (after her father left), and the complex feelings and emotions that come as a result of the now teenager’s mother beginning a new relationship. Her dark thoughts, obsessive feelings and neglected mental health problems leading the young woman to standing on the edge of a rooftop.

The aim of the movie is to draw people’s attention to underdiagnosed mental disorders and youth suicide in Estonia. Encouraging young people to seek help, which is available for free by calling Lasteabi (children’s help) on 116111, the victim assistance crisis line on 116006, and emotional support line 116123 (10 am-midnight).

To aid in this effort, after the premiere, there will be an auction of props and costumes from the film. With all the profits going to work on Estonian youth suicide prevention and further distribution of the film. This will be followed by an after-party.

Although December 12 marks the film’s domestic premiere, the film has already had notable success on the international movie festival circuit. Winning a number of awards including best director, best short director debut, best actress, best supporting actress, and best original score, at festivals from as far afield as Canada.

For the movie’s writer and producer Helen Anvelt, it was a dream more than 10 years in the making. Over the years, the first time screenwriter saw her “script probably have 30-40 different drafts”. However, it was the advice to find a director that “helped take it from a script to a final movie in 3 years”. Finding Baltic Film and Media School student and debut director Karl-Jonatan Karits.

The movie’s international team includes a number of people making their screen debuts including lead actress Greta Korju, who is best known as a world ballroom dancing champion and star of “Dancing with the Stars”.

Without giving the storyline away Anvelt explained that “sometimes only the people who have felt the same can help.”

Tickets for the glamorous red carpet premiere, as well as the after-party are available from Fienta. The movie, which is in Estonian, French and English, also has English subtitles.