8 Views of Lake Biwa

On the shimmering shores of Europe's otherworldly edge, two teenage girls, Hanake and her best friend are discussing their first love interest while gazing out at yachts sailing to Kyoto. They whisper prayers and poems, the language of their longings. But the magic is fading in their isolated fishing village as they come to terms with a recent disaster, with some indulging in acts of erotic art, some in spiritual spells. It becomes clear that intimacy alone won't help them process their loss. In a deeply visceral tale, acclaimed Estonian director Marko Raat explores themes of love, illuminating the lives of a community who still believe that they are connected to the universe.

Director’s Note

We need poetry to step out of the constraints of the dominant, pragmatic mindset and to describe the indescribable, in much the same way exploring a distant culture enables us to look at our own culture with fresh eyes. The traditional Japanese animistic Shinto belief system, upholding the spirituality of all living things, the soulfulness of the whole world, encompasses exactly what we, here in the West, have lost. Japanese culture as a whole exemplifies a certain type of organic and apolitical spirituality. All the 8 views are based on folk tales, which allow us to say nasty things in a child-like way but in beautiful form. This is what we actually do in our everyday modern life, hiding ugly truths behind smart euphemisms.

Recognition:

8 Views of Lake Biwa was selected as Estonia's 2025 Academy Award submission for Best International Feature Film. The film premiered at the Rotterdam Film Festival and has been featured at numerous festivals worldwide. At the Hanoi International Film Festival, it won the Jury Prize for Best Feature-Length Film, and Tiina Tauraite was awarded Best Actress.