Black Dirt 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 forbidden, the state border is barbed wire, and even dreaming of freedom is not allowed. Brash 17-year-old Mihkel sets off on a summer journey 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 so he can impress the foreign music producers invited to the festival. A rocking dream team is thrown together, and the road trip can begin. To Mihkel’s astonishment, 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 reality of Soviet Estonia and collide head-on with the comedy of the era. The wild road trip puts friendship, love and dreams to the test. The journey, packed with music and adventure, culminates at a music festival, where the young rockers must find the 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 of Taska Film (“Suvitajad”, “Klassikokkutulek”, “Nimed Marmortahvlil”), Tanel Tatter and Veiko Esken of Apollo Film Productions (“Apteeker Melchior”, “Talve”, “Vigased pruudid”), Janis Kalejs of Film Angels Studio (“O2”, “Sangarid”, “Apteeker Melchior”), and Rain Rannu and Tõnu Hiielaid of 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.

The making of “Musta pori näkku” is supported by Eesti Filmi Instituut, Kultuurkapital, Viru Filmifond and Tartu Filmifond, as well as the Latvian Film Centre and Latvia’s state rebate fund. The film’s sponsors are Alexela, A.Le Coq, Apotheka, Postimees, Kanal 2, Coca-Cola, Tradehouse and Babe.