Life and Love

The price you pay for romantic illusions.

In 1933, a young woman leaves her rural home to chase her dream of becoming a writer in the city. She takes job as a maid for a middle-aged printing house owner, who quickly starts pursuing her romantically. They marry, but his passionate declarations of love soon turn cold. As political tensions rise in the country, their love story unfolds in a divided society, revealing toxic behaviors and power games that start innocently but lead to dire consequences.

Director’s note

At first glance, “Life and Love” appears to be a historical romantic drama. However, beneath the cover of this love story, lie toxic behaviour patterns and power dynamics that render the narrative timeless. Our goal is to depict contemporary relationships, focusing on four characters whose personal developments mirror each other. We introduce a political backdrop reflecting the era’s politics and modern societal divisions in Estonia and worldwide. Importantly, we aim not to condemn characters but reveal their underlying motives, offering a new perspective. While rooted in its era, our film adopts a modern style, emphasizing characters’ inner lives. We use visual repetitions and techniques from horror and thriller films to engage the audience emotionally and intellectually. We aim to provide the audience a glimpse of hope behind seemingly futile situations and gain a fresh perspective on what we often label as love.