Darkness in Tallinn

This ultra-black comedy by Finnish film-maker Järvilaturi is an unexpected joy. It begins, almost disconcertingly, with Estonia's newly re-established independence being marked by a secret gathering of criminals, who plan to nab the country's massive bullion reserves when they're brought from Paris back to Tallinn. Thus is Toivo (Uukkivi), a small-time caviar smuggler and electrician, advised by his very pregnant wife Maria (Gulbe) to abandon ideals for the promise of money, brought in on a daring night hold-up. True to form, the scheme hits the skids with in-fighting among the ill-matched hoods. Ingeniously written (by Paul Kolsby), tautly paced with b/w photography that never fails to surprise, this is noir at its blackest. The characters, too, are pleasingly quirky, but never contrived. A funny, suspenseful heist movie with a properly sharp moral/political edge.