The Fencer works thanks in large part to a series of small moments that add up to a robust character study of both Endel and the town, filled with residents who are none too happy about being on the wrong side of the Iron Curtain.

| May 27, 2020

The Fencer is a minor film, but a very effective one that is well worth checking out.

| Mar 24, 2020

Above all, the film serves as a tribute to Endel Nelis.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jan 30, 2020

[Klaus] Hr's effort is very low-key, matching its quiet, contemplative atmosphere to desaturated, cold-toned visuals.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 8, 2017

It's the kids, as charming and scrappy a bunch as you'd find anywhere, who give The Fencer its winning edge.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 7, 2017

The true story of an Estonian sports hero offers a lovely twist on a familiar tale. A cinematic triumph from a nation that's been missing from the global film stage.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 30, 2017

Unfortunately, being a sincere, heartfelt true story isn't enough to recommend this film. One can only hope that someone more skilled will someday tell this story in a more compelling fashion.

| Sep 15, 2017

It's surprising how polite and restrained everything is. However, that doesn't mean you won't be wiping your eyes as the credits start to roll.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 31, 2017

Adeptly directed by Finnish filmmaker Klaus Haro, who emphasizes the hope and pride his protagonist inspires in his young students, this is a smooth sail of a movie too enjoyable to be doomed by its formulaic presentation of deserving material.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Aug 25, 2017

Although somewhat boxed in by its own physical beauty, The Fencer is so uniformly well-crafted, it should be shown in film schools as a model of technical artists operating at the highest level.

| Aug 24, 2017

Klaus Hr's The Fencer straddles the line between the inspirational sports coach and postwar intrigue genres, and while it isn't a tournament-winning example of either form, it has a steady stance and hits most of the expected targets.

| Aug 24, 2017

Basically a "Hoosiers" remake ... but that's OK. It's a winner here, too.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Aug 23, 2017

An effective mix of underdog sports drama and political thriller, inspired by the true-life story of celebrated fencing champ Endel Nelis.

| Aug 17, 2017

Built to be an audience-pleaser, and it's successful in that respect, delivering a level of benevolence that's immensely appealing.

| Original Score: B | Aug 17, 2017

Not awful, just uninspired.

| Original Score: 1/5 | Aug 11, 2017

Though the camera follows Endel closely, we never really get inside his head - or explore the fear, regret and uncertainty that must plague him.

| Original Score: 1.5/4 | Aug 10, 2017

... an awkward mix of sports underdog saga and political thriller, yet even when its edges are soft instead of sharp, the crowd-pleasing result provides depth and historical insight.

| Jul 28, 2017

The Fencer is respectable, well-acted and ultimately heartwarming, but it's also forgettable.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jul 21, 2017

Throughout the film, Hr vividly captures a sense of the late Stalinist-era paranoia, as well as the drabness of Soviet life in general. It is also engaging on a human level. These are reserved people, but when they make a connection, it is meaningful.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 21, 2017

A celebration of the ethical goodness and heroic acts of a teacher.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 21, 2017