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The Fencer Reviews
It's good. I'd recommend it.
Excellent story and wonderful acting.
This foreign sports movie was really good. Mart Avandi, Ursula Ratasepp, and the rest of the cast did a fantastic job in this movie. This true story about a famous fencer from Leningrad starting a fencing program at the school he works at in Haapsalu, Estonia was dramatic, inspirational, and amazing. It's about doing what you love and teaching it to others and risking your life to do what is right. If you haven't seen this movie, check it out sometime. It's worth watching.
(a "SPECIAL FEATURES DVD interview with the film's director, Klaus Härö" review by Timothy J. Verret) Truth be told, I was not prepared to write a review of THE FENCER (2015), as I was ever so slightly underwhelmed at this film's conclusion, but after watching the SPECIAL FEATURES DVD interview with the film's director, Klaus Härö, I knew I had no other choice. I seek to bridge that interview with the actual film in this review, as coupled together I can now see how they wonderfully and spiritually feed off each other. Yes, BOTH! THE FENCER (2015) is a Finnish/an Estonian film adapted from the real-life story of Endel Nelis, an accomplished Estonian fencer and coach who is basically on the run from the Soviet Police. What "fences" Endel in, as does most, is his sordid yet "did I have a choice?" past and how that comes back to haunt him, maybe for good. When films go the political or war route, I'm typically going for the hills unless same is in the background, lingering but not protruding, which is the case in this film. And this should be in the background because THE FENCER is a "triumphant human" story, a story about relationships, and a story about professional and personal triumph, all things that can easily get hijacked when politics and war in a film predominate. Endel teaches fencing to some wide-eyed and cute-as-a-button little ones, but alas he teaches them much more. He teaches them about focus, technique, and responsibility when fencing (and not) but, above all, Endel plays a hugely patriarchal role in these children's impressionable minds and hearts. Not to bring up the "war" stuff too much that I just discounted, but many of these children had fathers who abandoned them because of the war or the affiliation therein, so the last thing Endel wants to do is abandon them one more time. He, in fact, puts all his cards on the table (I know, wrong game!) to NOT abandon them for fear of crushing what little hope they have left in someone, a father figure, to believe in them and never leave them. In this respect, THE FENCER is a VERY spiritual film (as you will see below in Klaus Härö's interview), because I'm reminded of one of my favorite verses in the Bible: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6). Endel is a "Father God" figure to these children, and he backs up this Bible verse with his great love and devotion to these "fencing" children. What I think had slightly underwhelmed me about THE FENCER is that when Endel and the children head off to a fencing tournament, as THE KARATE KID exciting as this part of the film was, it was hard to get too excited because the film did not explain the fencing techniques and rules all that well. Of course, that could just be me as someone who is VERY "un-sports-inclined." Now, I get to talk about the SPECIAL FEATURES DVD interview with the film's director, Klaus Härö, most definitely my favorite part of this review of THE FENCER. Director Härö is a very handsome fellow, so let me just get that out of the way. But handsome or not, Härö is very intelligent, very honest, and very spiritual. Those traits right there put in the background, ironically like the war and politics I mentioned above, his good looks. The interviewer asks Härö some really probing questions in this interview that the director handles effortlessly. What is revealed along the way is how completely "human" Härö is and why he probably chooses only projects that are "human," as well, i.e., films about the triumph of the human spirit (with the word, "spirit" in BOLD). One question the interviewer asks Härö is, "What films influenced you to be a film director?" Now, this might have been wishful thinking on my part, but I just knew at that question Häröh was going to mention an Ingmar Bergman film….and he did! He actually mentioned the Swedish film, THE BEST INTENTIONS (1992), that was NOT directed by Bergman (Bille August sat in the director's chair), though Bergman wrote the screenplay to this film, and the film was about Ingmar Bergman's parents. Maybe Bergman chose not to direct this film because it "hit too close to home." I'm embarrassed to say I don't believe I saw this film (though I will now, of course), probably because it was not directed by Ingmar Bergman. What Härö says about the influence of this film is that it had such a simple premise and storyline and yet tackled with such great drive and fire the complexity of human relationships and human emotions. Härö even coined a recovery term when he said he likes films, like these, that "keep it simple." The other film that Härö mentioned as an influence, and this really blew me away maybe because it was an American film, was E.T. THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL (1982). Härö described how he saw this film as a youngster (I take it) at an IMAX theatre in Helsinki, Finland, and when Elliot and his friends on "simple" bikes escaped the police by flying into the air because of E.T.'s powers, Härö knew that he could become and desperately wanted to become a film director. He clearly saw the impossible in that scene and knew that all things would be possible for him with that movie magic! Restated (and I don't think Härö would mind), "all things are possible to those who believe" (Mark 9:23). This prayerful insight on my part also makes Klaus Härö a VERY spiritual film director. And keeping this review on the spiritual plane and even personalizing it a bit, I searched all my life for a "father," like Endel Nelis, who would never leave me nor forsake me. I found that in Father God, and I'm so happy these children in THE FENCER found a father in Endel. And going back to this very handsome film director, did I fail to mention that Märt Avandi, the actor who plays Endel, is also very handsome? Okay, Timothy, enough! End the review….NOW! 😉
another masterpiece from director Klaus Härö (Letters to Father Jacob, Mother of Mine.). Here is a true story of an estonian fencer during the soviet occupation (stalin era). Story of love, faith, commitment, and courage - in a quiet way.
An inspiring story based on the life of Estonian fencer Endel Nelis. Well acted and a validation of hope in the darkest of times.
We have seen this movie before, but I am a sucker for "mysterious teacher with a hidden past teaches his students to see" flicks.
Not every film needs to hit you upside the head to be enjoyed. I wasn't aware The Fencer was fact-based until the end, but I enjoyed its quiet telling of the tale.
At its core, it's another inspirational young underdog sports movie, but the surface is very polished with tense historical context, precise cinematography, and a great cast.
Saw this movie at a film festival about 2 years ago. Has a similar vibe as the movie Hoosiers but more intense because of ever looming threat of the secret police
Came across by chance, really well crafted film. Thourghly enjoyed it.
Well made and entertaining, if a tad predictable at times - 'School of Rock with swords', as David Clack puts it in Time Out, is right on the money. It is saved by good performances - the children in particular are a treat, the novelty of seeing an Estonian film and the overall story which is intriguing throughout.
an atmosphere of caution, fear and secrecy pervades this post WW2 Finnish movie about a fleeing fencer seeking a new life in a small Estonian town. his wards ultimately give him a sense of belonging and in seeking to inspire them, he stands firm against the looming authorities. effective cinematography, music and acting.
Historical and poetical drama nominated for the Golden Globes, The Fencer tells the true story of Endel Neils, played by the charismatic Märt Avandi. Endel comes back to his hometown in Estonia and try to open a fencer club in the school he works for, even though the Soviet Domination and the censorship cast a shadow over the country. The historical point of view and the period costumes give a certain charm to the love story that remains in the background. But, contrary to what we may think, the true love story is the one that joins together Endel and his students. Thank to fencing, both the children and the teacher will find a shelter where they can forget about the difficult historical context. Ant it was not in vain since the club is still open ! Full review on our blog : https://losindiscretos.org/2016/07/22/the- fencer-2015-klaus-haron/#fenceren
A potent movie reflecting the political ideology conflict in Estonia during the 1953. The small village standing up against the communist dictatorship by practising fencing is an interesting take by the filmakers. Beautiful cinematography and very unique camera movements. However, the movie is not something out of the blue. The Fencer is by no doubt a wonderful movie with many effort put into every shot but in the end it falls into the cliché category.
Looking for a new start while the past is on the tail. The 2016's Golden Globe nominee and also Finland's submission for the Oscars in the same year, but failed to get into the final five. Produced by the Baltic nations that set in when Estonia was a part of the USSR in the early 50s. It chronicles the story of Endel Nelis, a man who's on the run arrives in a small town called Haapsalu to teach the school children sports. As his life is in danger, he intends to keep a low profile for a while. But seems everything is turning around him against him when he decides to teach his students fencing. It brings a large attention to the surroundings. Then comes a time where he must confront what he's hiding from which brings an end to the narration with little extended end part that reveals further details about the later event. "It's good to have them focus on something, keep them occupied. It takes their mind off things." This is a very short story, but somehow the movie managed to run for the 90 minutes with a good pace. It did not cover the entire life story of Endel Nelis, but a small slice. So you definitely feel desperate to know about his past, but this film does not compromise on that. It has a great background score, and overall it is a very inspiring movie. The actors were so simple, but very good in their parts. Other than the lead character Endel, the two kids Marta and Jaan were excellent. The romance was as its sub-plot, but the theme was sport so all the concentration on the fencing and nothing else. In a couple of sections it feels so cliche, but since it was based on the real, there's nothing to do about it than accepting it. Fencing is not a popular sport in the world, so it is good to see a movie about it, but sadly it was not internationally well recognised. Like I said earlier the story was quite small, so I can't describe it in a large scale. I think I said everything I wanted to. In its limitedness the movie was pretty impressive. Not everyone who saw it going to suggest it for you, but it is worth a try. 7 1/2/10
a feel good Holocaust film? Not since Bernini