Estonia tries cultural charm offensive in Russia

Estonia tries cultural charm offensive in Russia

by Anneli Reigas

TALLINN, Dec 25, 2007 - Political ties with its Soviet-era overlord may be at their frostiest since independence in 1991, but Estonia has embarked on a cultural charm offensive to try to win hearts and minds in Russia.

At the forefront is "Georg", a new biopic about Georg Ots, a baritone from the Baltic state who won admiration across the Soviet Union during an operatic career which was cut short by his untimely death in 1975.

Concerts organised by Estonia in Russia in Ots' memory -- the most recent was a few weeks ago in Saint Petersburg -- remain regular sell-outs.

The film, which is due to be released in Russia in February 2008, pulls at the audience's heart strings as it recounts the story of Ots' life and loves.

Starring opposite 39-year-old Estonian actor Marko Matvere, who plays Ots, is Russian actress Anastasia Makeyeva, 26, who portrays the singer's second wife Asta.

"When we did the film I realised that the younger generation of Russians hardly knows anything about Ots," said producer.

"Even Anastasia told us that she knew almost nothing about him before she asked her parents."

Ots' story is a reminder of the days before little Estonia became a bugbear for its giant neighbour, and is a symbol of his people's complex relationship with Russia.

He was born in 1920, shortly after Estonia had won independence following the collapse of the tsarist empire. During World War II he served in the Estonian armed forces. Then was forced to join the invading Soviet army or face prison.

His career flowered after Estonia was reoccupied by Moscow in the wake of the conflict, and he became a household name across the Soviet Union.

At 2.1 million euros (3.0 million dollars), the movie is the most expensive Estonian film ever made, and has been co-produced with Russian and Finnish investors.

Estonia regained its independence from the crumbling Soviet Union in 1991.

The drive for freedom in the late 1980s had a cultural edge: it became known as the Singing Revolution, as hundreds of thousands of people flocked to traditional choral festivals which came to symbolise passive resistance to Soviet rule.

In addition to the Ots movie, Estonia is putting out other feelers to music-loving Russians. Aivar Mae, director of the Estonian Concert Agency, has launched a project to build a new music venue in downtown city of Saint Petersburg.

The concert hall will be located in the Russian city's St. John church that belonged to Estonian community in Saint Petersburg already before WWII.