The Fencer
The Fencer chronicles the life of the legendary Estonian fencing master Endel Nelis, who in the 1950s founded a school for aspiring young swordsmen that still thrives today. The past however catches up and puts him in front of a difficult choice.
12 October 1948, Pärnu, Estonia
29 January 1951, Tartu, Estonia
29 March 1958, Tallinn, Estonia
18 April 1924, Tallinn, Estonia
26 February 1981, Rapla, Estonia
November 29, 2016
It's an assured piece of work and, as confidently directed by Klaus Haro, it intrigues for much of its length, building to a suspenseful climax.
November 29, 2016
The alluring looks of The Fencer can be deceiving, as the groundwork for an ominous and intensely riveting final act is laid out.
September 26, 2016
'School of Rock' with swords.
November 20, 2016
Inspiration is the life-affirming theme of this charming story in which a fencer in Soviet occupied Estonia inspires the children he teaches to learn a new skill and face new challenges
December 27, 2016
The historical context does add a unique texture to the familiar trajectory of Anna Heinamaa's sturdy screenplay, as does Tuomo Hutri's wintry photography.
September 29, 2016
The man and his motivations remain oddly elusive in this blankly heroic, clunkingly predictable portrait.
November 30, 2016
Don't discount the impact a predictable tale can have when it's couched in empathetic performances and built from small, intimate moments.
March 03, 2016
An affecting portrait of a decent man who risks his life to uphold a bond of trust with his students. Though squarely in the tradition of Dead Poets Society and The Bad News Bears, the film offers higher stakes and, consequently, a bigger payoff.
November 29, 2016
It's an effective vehicle for exploring the troubled relationship between two countries, and that may be the point, at the expense of accuracy.
September 29, 2016
This well-acted, smoothly crafted drama tells a story of cross-generational bonding in the face of historical oppression, in touching if unsurprising fashion.
November 24, 2016
I wish I'd known The Fencer was a true story before it began ... It would have made its sentimental and seemingly formulaic story feel much less on the nose.
