Kings of the Time / Kralji časa
Mait Laas (Nukufilm)
2008, Estonia, 72’
A documentary with the elements of animation about Elbert Tuganov and Heino Pars – two animators and artists who despite changing times have become masters of their domain, i.e. animation filmmaking. Their creative lives have developed at the most complex geopolitical and intercultural background.
Dokumentarec z elementi animacije o Elbertu Tuganovu in Heinu Parsu – animatorjema in umetnikoma, ki sta se kljub vihravim časom izmojstrila na svojem področju: animiranih filmih. Njuni kreativni življenji sta se razvili v najkompleksnejšem geopolotičnem in medkulturnem okolju.
Elbert Tuganov (1922-2007, director and producer of 38 puppet and stereoscopic animations) and Heino Pars (1925-2014, director of over 15 puppet films) were key figures of the studio in an artistic but also production sense. Frequently in their lives they have been responsible to conduct negotiations with the censor office on behalf of the creative individuals working at the Nukufilm. The film is made in a specific "creative documentary" genre thus the viewers should view it simultaneously as a source of knowledge but also an autonomous work of art. In this film the life and work of Tuganov and Pars all took place in the 1950s when the first Sputnik was launched to space, rivers were reversed and hydraulic power plants built ... At the same time, in a far corner of the Soviet Union, two Estonian men started to play with puppets. Elbert Tuganov and Heino Pars in spite of the changing times, have established themselves as the kings of time and, quoting the chronicle films of their time: „were the first Estonians who have flown all the way to the roof of the World cinema…”. The film was appreciated with the major awards of the Estonian cinema industry (Estonian Film Critics Association; Estonian Cultural Endowment Best Documentary; FIPRESCI Jury Prize at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival).
Mait Laas
is an Estonian producer, writer, director and artist. He has worked in Nukufilm studio since 1995. Mait Laas has participated in many exhibitions and performances.