The topic of werewolves has been tackled in Estonian legends and fairy-tales perhaps even more than that of witches. The drama Werewolf (1912) by August Kitzberg (1855-1927) partly joins both issues and has always fascinated theatre directors as well as filmmakers. The main theme of Werewolf is the conflict of contradictory world views in Estonia at the time of slavery. On the one hand we have the principles of the Tammaru family - conservatism, subjection to German manor lords and the church, striving to adapt at any cost to the dominating situation and values. On the other hand there is Tiina, daughter of an executed 'witch' who with her passionate nature is unable to put up with the enforced humility and prejudices resulting from her mother's fate, and that in the end takes her to the depths of the forest to lead a solitary life and death there. The conflict is made bitterer by the love affair between Tiina and Margus, son of the Tammaru household. Margus lacks courage to take the decisive step, which has been regarded as a symbol of Estonia's torment under various occupying regimes. The young man yearns for freedom, but does not dare do anything that would upset the existing way of life, whereas Tiina stands for freedom and passionate feelings. The topicality of Werewolf has probably not vanished in today's independent Estonia either. The Tammaru family attitudes are still very much alive, i.e. people adapt to the circumstances and serve money as their new god, whereas Tiina's sincerely open character is the object of quiet envy for the rather closed and reserved Estonians.

a shot from the film "werewolf"

The film Werewolf was produced by "Tallinnfilm" in 1968, and was directed by Leida Laius. Main roles: Tiina, Ene Rämmeld, Margus, Evald Hermaküla. The child Tiina was played by today's famous poet Doris Kareva. Music was written by Veljo Tormis and the artist was Linda Vernik.

The photograph shows one of the key scenes: in order to understand Tiina's character the film shows the execution by beating of her mother, the 'witch' (Siina Üksküla). The photo was taken on 13 March in Tõrva by P. Raukas. The film's premiere took place on 6 January 1969, and was both praised and condemned by the critics. Overwhelming acclaim was given to Siina Üksküla's (in the picture) episodic role as Tiina's mother, and the music by Tormis. The film was dubbed into Russian and circulated all over the Soviet Union. The subsequent life and work of both the director, Leida Laius, and the protagonist, Ene Rämmeld, turned out to be quite complicated, like that of the heroine in the film, but nevertheless still positive and buoyant.

Ivi Tomingas graduated from the University of Tartu with the degree of a historian in 1982, since 1985 working in the Estonian Film Archives, starting from 2001 as director. Member of the board and compiler of the photographic section of magazine "Tuna", board member of the Society of Estonian Archivists.