November

November unfolds in a frigid Estonian village where frost rules the land and folk remedies double as survival tricks. Liina, a stubborn young woman, tries to win the heart of Hans, a wary man whose loyalties have long been divided by superstition and memory. The villagers trade recipes, charms, and whispered warnings as hunger and winter press in, while a mounting sense of the uncanny threads its way through the quiet routines of daily life. Nightmares feel close at hand, and the line between love and obligation grows thin as breath fogs in the cold air. The film forges a hypnotic mix of romance, folklore, and dreamlike horror, all presented in stark monochrome.

Directed by Rainer Sarnet, this adaptation draws on Andrus Kivirähk's novel with Rozemarijn In 't Veld as co creator. Shot in high contrast black and white, it premiered in 2017 at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival to festival audiences.

Box Office: Publicly reported numbers are scarce. The film played primarily at festivals and select art house theaters, with a limited wide release outside Estonia. Because it targets festival audiences and cinema enthusiasts rather than mass market crowds, its commercial footprint remains modest.

Cultural Impact: Its blend of Baltic folklore with a stark modern fairy tale left a distinctive mark on regional cinema. The film's monochrome visuals and dream like sequences are frequently cited by critics as a bold approach to mythic storytelling. The Snowman and other whispered apparitions have become touchstones for discussions of Estonian film aesthetics.

Reception & Themes: Critics highlighted the mood and atmosphere, noting how love and longing contend with hardship and a touch of the supernatural. The film probes resilience in severe winter conditions, questions the balance between superstition and rational belief, and shows how communal rituals knit a fragile society together when hope feels thin.