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Flowers from the Mount of Olives (2013)

Original title: Õlimäe õied

Documentary Duration 66:42

Right alongside Jerusalem, in a Russian Orthodox Convent in Mount of Olives, lives the 82 year-old Estonian nun Mother Ksenya. Although inside the convent’s cement walls the clock is never set and life still follows the Julius calendar, the 20 years that Mother Ksenya has spent there have passed by in a flash. In the hierarchy of the nunnery she has now achieved the second-to-last level. She is heading towards complete silence, the Great Schema. But before that she has been given permission to tell the story of her life for the very last time.

Director: Heilika Pikkov

Keywords: historical treatment | asceticism | Estonians abroad | analyzing life | biography | talking about one's life | coming to terms with oneself | self-esteem | spiritual purification | church service | View all »

Photos and Galleries (12)

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Videos (1)

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Related Films

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Main Data

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Production Firm(s) Silmviburlane
Film Category Portrait, Documentary
Text / Dialogue Estonian, Russian, English
Subtitles Estonian, English, Russian
Duration 66:42

Crew

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Producer Ülo Pikkov
Director Heilika Pikkov
Screenwriter Heilika Pikkov
Cinematographer Heilika Pikkov | Astrida Konstante
Animator Matti Adoma
Composer Sven Grünberg
Sound Designer Horret Kuus
Editor Heilika Pikkov

First releases

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  • in cinema: 9.05.2013, Cinema Artis, Tallinn, Estonia
  • at other places: 27.07.2013, Russian Film Days by Lake Peipus, Vana-Kasepää, Estonia
  • on filmfestival: 7.-17.08.2013, Locarno Film Festival, Switzerland

Festivals, awards, nominations

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  • Award, Locarno Film Festival (Switzerland), 2013, Programme: Semaine de la critique - Zonta Club Locarno Award
  • Award, EstDocs - Estonian Documentary Film Festival (Toronto, Canada), 2013, Jury Award Top Prize
  • Prize, Annual Award of AV Division of Estonian Cultural Endowment (Estonia), 2013, Documentary of the Year

Partners and Sponsors

  • Kultuuriministeerium
  • EFI
  • Eesti Kultuurkapital
  • ERR
  • Rahvusarhiiv
  • BFM
  • Kinoliit
  • Eesti Filmiajakirjanike ühing
  • Tallinnfilm