In 1944, the Estonian people were divided, as Estonian men had been forcibly conscripted into both the Soviet and German armies during the war. When the Red Army managed to break through the German defense line in the Blue Hills of Narva in 1944, Estonian soldiers realized they were fighting against their own countrymen. Regardless of whether Germany or the Soviet Union wins the war, Estonia will surely lose. Internationally successful and record-breaking in Estonia, the spectacular war film tells the story of a silenced history. The movie has sparked wide discussion also in Russia, where it is being compared to current events. Finland’s history could have been very different as well, if the battle on the Blue Hills of Estonia had ended differently. It has also been said that the defensive victory in the Karelian Isthmus in 1944 would have turned into a battle against the invading Red Army towards Helsinki if the Estonians had not fought so persistently brother against brother on the Blue Hills.
The movie was directed by Elmo Nüganen and written by Leo Kunnas, and it was produced by Ilkka Matila (MRP Matila Röhr Productions) and Kristian Taska (Taska Film).
