Sõprus – Druzhba (Friendship)
Anu Pennanen
The video examines the urbanization of the cityscape from the perspective of teenagers in the Estonian capital Tallinn. Between documentary and fiction, the film draws a parallel between the teenagers' growth and the city’s developments. Two groups, Estonian and Russian, separated by language and history, are becoming curious about each other. The issues are framed against the backdrop of historically charged city locations, Linnahall cultural centre and Maarjamäe Memorial site, and in contrast with these, the recently opened Viru Keskus shopping centre. These spaces were originally planned by the authorities for specific public purposes. Teenagers who spend more time hanging around than others, transform the places into event sites that have a different purpose than was originally planned. The film is based on workshops, texts, and discussions with the nine teenagers featured in the film. The young people seem to float above the dominant and alienating environment, immersed in their own circles. The individual experience is put in dialogue with the monumental aspects of architecture and cinema.
13 works