It’s Worldwide Wednesday, and after two weeks on the African continent, we’re heading all the way north to Estonia and back in time to the 19thcentury for a black & white feature with strange creatures. Like strange creatures? Check out Episode #045 (“The Ritual”). Maybe a more medieval time period that isn’t super creepy? Check out Episode #100 (“The Little Hours”). Or if you want some background information on perceptions of witchcraft during the timej, definitely check out Episode #131 (“Häxan”).

And now...

Today’s movie is “November” (2017), the Estonian art house fantasy drama written and directed by Rainer Sarnet, based on a novel by Andrus Kivirähk. The film is set in a 19thcentury Estonian village driven by magic and folk remedies, primarily following Liina (Rea Lest), who is attempting to seduce Hans (Jörgen Liik). The film was featured at twelve film festivals around the globe before making its US debut this past February via Oscilloscope Laboratories.

Spoilers ahead.

Holy crap. That’s what I said after about fifteen minutes of “November”, meant in a very good, slightly overwhelming way, because it begins by immediately setting a very bizarre tone, full of dark magical realism. We’re talking Death, werewolves, ghosts, and kratts, which are creatures composed of tools animated by the Devil himself. And with such a crowded village, there’s a lot to process. I actually had to watch it in two sittings, but it was well worth it.

When we think of fantasy films, most of us envision some form of Celtic, Greek, or Norse mythologies, re-interpreted through Tolkein, Riordan, and Marvel. But Eastern Europe has its own mythologies, sometimes far-reaching, sometimes localized, with Transylvania being the most renowned. With “November” we get a crash course in Estonian folklore, and still somehow running the full range of emotions by its tragic ending.

Sarnet’s really created something amazing, pulling off a black and white film reminiscent of Andrei Tarkovsky’s “Andrei Rublev” (1966), or more recently, Aleksei German’s “Hard to Be a God” (2015), but with sharper definition and excellent accenting filters and perspectives. I loved the use of b-roll, making the fantastic mundane and the mundane quite fantastic, and the effects used for the kratts were awesome. Add an excellent cast that never once doubts their role and the result is an incredibly bizarre film that is truly one of a kind.

“November” (2017) is weird, but if you know that going in, and you commit to the surrealistic journey, then you won’t be disappointed. Rainer Sarnet has adapted a wonderful film from excellent source material, which I hope gets an English translation at some point. If you like weird, and I mean really weird, then you should definitely check out this film.

Rotten Tomatoes: 95%

Metacritic: 79

One Movie Punch: 8.8/10

Podcast: onemoviepunch.libsyn.com/episode-157-november-2017

“November” (2017) is not rated and is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.

Episode 157 - November (2017)

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Episode 503 - First Man (2018)

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Joseph Dobzynski, Jr.

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