The Class
Short description
Set in an Estonian high school, this drama focuses on Joosep, a student who is targeted by his peers through persistent harassment and physical abuse. The situation changes when another student, Kaspar, decides to defend him. This act of support disrupts the social order of the classroom and sparks a confrontation between Kaspar and the informal leader of the students. As the cruelty of the classmates escalates, the two outsiders face further isolation and violence, leading them toward a desperate search for dignity and revenge.
The film was written and directed by Ilmar Raag, marking the start of a directorial chronology that includes the later film Erik Stoneheart. The cast features Vallo Kirs as Kaspar, Pärt Uusberg as Joosep, and Lauri Pedaja as Anders, with supporting roles played by Paula Solvak, Mikk Mägi, and Riina Ries. Produced by Amrion and Eesti Televisioon, the project involved a credited crew of 59 people.
Audience reception has been generally positive, as reflected in the ratings. On IMDb, the film holds a score of 7.9/10 based on 17,000 votes, while on TMDB it has a rating of 7.5/10 from 255 votes.
What's left behind the scenes
- The film was shot in 14 days.
- The song playing at the end was written by the actor who played Joseph – Part Uusberg.
- The film was recommended for viewing by Estonian schoolchildren, and if an entire class came to a screening with their teacher, they received a significant discount.
- Many scenes were invented by the actors, who also added slang expressions.
- The shooting scene was filmed in the cafeteria of the Lasnamäe Russian Gymnasium.
- The film's plot was inspired by the events at Columbine High School in America, when two teenagers shot and killed 13 people at their school before taking their own lives.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
