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The Player (2008)

Original title: Mängija

Documentary Duration 53:00

The Player

The documentary about professional chess player Jaan Ehlvest and his daily life in a harsh world of professional sports where every result influences one's income and subsistence. The protagonist questions whether it is worth living a life where between championships he keeps running through different American cities and staying in hotels that look exactly the same. So it is not that much a sports documentary but rather a view into a development story of a talented and selfish man.

Director: Kaupo Kruusiauk

Keywords: giftedness | audio archives | award ceremony | car ride | bar | self-analysis | self-irony | barbecuing | illnesses | hotel room | View all »

Main Data

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Production Firm(s) Exitfilm
Film Category Documentary, Portrait
Text / Dialogue Estonian, English
Duration 53:00

Crew

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Producer Peeter Urbla
Director Kaupo Kruusiauk
Screenwriter Kaupo Kruusiauk
Cinematographer Kaupo Kruusiauk | Arvo Vilu | Erik Norkroos
Composer Allan Vainola | Margus Tammela
Sound Designer Horret Kuus

First releases

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  • in cinema: 17.04.2008, Tallinn, Estonia
  • in cinema: 19.04.2008, kino Athena (Tartu), Estonia
  • on television: 7.01.2010, ETV, Estonia

Festivals, awards, nominations

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  • Award, DOCUPOILIS - International Documentary Film Festival of Barcelona (Spain), 2008, võistlusprogramm, First Documentary Award

Partners and Sponsors

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