REGILAUL - SONGS OF THE ANCIENT SEA

104 min. HD, 35mm and DCP, und 52 min. TV-version
Language: Estonian
Subtitles: English or German or French

DVD not available yet

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On the shores of the Gulf of Finland, the ancient Finno-Ugric peoples originated a singing tradition of mysterious power called the Regilaul. These songs are the roots of Estonia’s renowned singing culture. Based on the continuous repetition of eight-syllable verses, they produce a haunting sound able to connect the fleeting present with the eternal circle of life. Against the stunning setting of modern Estonia, this film explores how Regi songs still fire the imagination today, weaving together people and nature through song.

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Ulrike Koch, Director
Born in Birkenfeld/Nahe, Germany. Studied sinology at the University of Zurich and modern Chinese literature and philosophy at Beijing University. Worked as casting director on ‘The Last Emperor’ by Bernardo Bertolucci and as assistant director on ‘Urga’ by Nikita Mikhalkov. Lives as an independent filmmaker in Zollikon near Zürich.

1996 Qi-Gong in China – Traditional Medicine in Asia (documentary)
1997 The Saltmen of Tibet (documentary)
2003 Ässhäk – Tales from the Sahara (documentary)
2006 Guge – Restoring for the Buddhas (documentary)
2008 Voller Freude und Vertrauen – Lebenskreis eines Tibeters (documentary)
2011 Regilaul – Songs of the Ancient Sea (documentary)

Protagonists
Veljo Tormis
Lauri Õunapuu
Meelika Hainsoo
Urmas Sellis
Jaak Johanson
Jaan Kaplinski
Lea Tormis
Mikk Sarv
Urve Lippus
Jane Priks
Märt-Matis Lill
Pfarrer Harri Rein
Eva Mitreikina
Ando Kiviberg

Team
Director: Ulrike Koch
Camera: Pio Corradi
Original Sound: Mart Kessel-Otsa
Production Manager, Interpreter: Ursula Zimmermann
Editor: Magdolna Rokob
Music Composer Märt-Matis Lill
Sound Editor and Mix: Florian Eidenbenz

Coproduction Switzerland - Estonia
Switzerland: Doc Productions GmbH, Rose-Marie Schneider
Estonia: Rühm Pluss Null, Erik Norkroos
in Coproduction with SRF, Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen and SRG

with the kind support of:
Switzerland: 
Bundesamt für Kultur (EDI)
Zürcher Filmstiftung
Kulturfonds SUISSIMAGE
Migros-Kulturprozent
Parrotia-Stiftung
Elisabeth Brunner
Peter Eugster
Holdit, Ruedi A. Wassmer
Ruedi C. Bechtler
Succès Passage Antenne
Stage Pool Focal und Ernst Göhner Stiftung

Translations with the support of stiftung corymbo

Estonia:  
Eesti Filmi Sihtasutus - Estonian Film Foundation, Raimo Jõerand
EV Kultuuriministeerium - Estonian Ministry of Culture, Meelis Muhu, Edith Sepp
Eesti Rahvusringhääling - Estonian Public Broadcasting, Heidi Pruuli
Eesti Kultuurkapital - Cultural Endowment of Estonia

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Distribution Switzerland: Columbus Film AG, Zurich

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0000-0002-C817-0000-3-0000-0000-S

• www.regilaul-film.com
• www.plussnull.ee
• www.columbusfilm.ch