Black Mud in Your Face

An adventure comedy inspired by Mihkel Raud’s bestselling novel of the same name, taking us into the wild world of young musicians in the late 1980s. The blue-black-and-white flag is still forbidden, the border is barbed wire, and even dreaming of freedom is not allowed. The brash 17-year-old Mihkel sets off on a summer trip with his heavy metal band to perform at the first music festival of his life. His friend and rival Hendrik, whose band has just broken up, offers to join them to impress the foreign music producers invited to the festival. A rocking dream team is thrown together, and they’re ready to hit the road. To Mihkel’s dismay, Hendrik has brought his new girlfriend Liisa along—the girl of Mihkel’s dreams. Fueled by bravado and alcohol, the tour gets underway. The young heroes race through the absurdities of Soviet Estonia and collide head-on with the comedy of the era. This wild road trip puts friendship, love, and dreams to the test. The journey, full of music and adventure, culminates at a music festival, where the young rockers must find an answer to the question: “To be or not to be?”

Starring Timotheus Sammul (Mihkel), Erik Hermaküla (Hendrik), Erling Eding (Kojamees), and Carolyn Veensalu (Liisa). Also featuring Carmen Mikiver, Nikolai Bentsler, Ago Anderson, Jaune Kimmel, Simo Andre Kadastu, Priit Pius, Rudolfs Apse, Karin Rask, Rain Tolk, Ott Aardam, and others.

The film is directed by Jaak Kilmi (“Sangarid,” “Tagurpidi torn,” “Vari”). Producers are Kristian Taska, Taska Film (“Suvitajad,” “Klassikokkutulek,” “Nimed Marmortahvlil”), Tanel Tatter and Veiko Esken, Apollo Film Productions (“Apteeker Melchior,” “Talve,” “Vigased pruudid”), Janis Kalejs, Film Angels Studio (“O2,” “Sangarid,” “Apteeker Melchior”), Rain Rannu, and Tõnu Hiielaid, Tallifornia (“Pikad paberid,” “Lapsmasin,” “Ameerika suvi”). The screenplay is by Martin Algus (“Kalev,” “Elu ja armastus,” “Sangarid”), cinematography by Elen Lotman, production design by Katrin Sipelgas, and costume design by Anu Lensment.

“Musta pori näkku” is supported by the Estonian Film Institute, Kultuurkapital, Viru Film Fund and Tartu Film Fund, and the Latvian Film Centre and Latvian state rebate funds. The film’s sponsors are Alexela, A.Le Coq, Apotheka, Postimees, Kanal 2, Coca-Cola, Tradehouse, and Babe.