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-white flag is still banned, the state border is lined with barbed wire, and even dreaming of freedom is forbidden. Audacious 17-year-old Mihkel sets off on a summer trip with his heavy metal band to perform at his first music festival. His friend and rival Hendrik, whose band has just broken up, offers to join them so he can impress the foreign music producers invited to the festival. They put together a rocking dream team, and the journey can begin. To Mihkel’s dismay, Hendrik has brought his new girlfriend Liisa along—who happens to be the girl of Mihkel’s dreams. Fueled by bravado and alcohol, the tour gathers pace as the young heroes race through the absurd realities of Soviet Estonia and collide head-on with the era’s comedy. The 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). Other roles are played by 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”). Its 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 film’s screenwriter is Martin Algus (“Kalev”, “Elu ja armastus”, “Sangarid”), cinematographer Elen Lotman, production designer Katrin Sipelgas and costume designer Anu Lensment.

“Musta pori näkku” was made with support from the Estonian Film Institute, Kultuurkapital, Viru Film Fund and Tartu Film Fund, as well as the Latvian Film Centre and Latvian national rebate funds. The film’s sponsors are Alexela, A.Le Coq, Apotheka, Postimees, Kanal 2, Coca-Cola, Tradehouse and Babe.