Yahoo Lifestyle In Estonian-Ukrainian Series ‘My Dear Mother,’ Love Is a Crime: ‘It Will Leave You Breathless’
Berlinale Series Market Selects pick “My Dear Mother” might start with a brutal murder, but it’s not really about the crime, “It’s a unique love story,” says writer Raoul Suvi.
“Maybe not easily understandable, but it’s based on a fight against injustice that nobody sees or cares about, and on the sense that the main character deserves love and a much better life.”
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In the Estonian-Ukrainian six-episode show, produced by Zolba Productions in collaboration with Ukraine’s Film.UA Group, the audience is put in the role of a judge and a journalist – both trying to understand what happened in the life of a girl accused of killing her own mother.
“As the story develops, they realize that the institutions, including her own family, haven’t fulfilled their main principles and goals,” reveals Suvi.
“[I wanted] to create a narrative which is not documenting a single case but creates a nuanced picture of the kind of reality that exists right next to us, and most of us don’t even notice it. Fortunately, we had good consultants: Külli-Riin Tigasson, a journalist who wrote a story that triggered our own investigation, and Andres Anvelt, who’s had a long career in law enforcement.”
Director Doris Tääker felt it was necessary to show violence on screen, however, to understand the situation of a young woman who becomes a fentanyl addict and a prostitute.
“Showing brutal violence raises questions: What is its purpose? Will the audience continue watching? We chose to go with a very realistic style and show violent scenes from the perspective of the main character, who’s the victim. The scenes don’t only show the violent act itself but also the aftermath, as I feel that the victim’s traumatic experience continues long after the incident has happened.”
Unable to work with an intimacy coordinator, Tääker joined forces with her stunt coordinator to create a safe environment for the actors.
“He suggested using the ‘Irréversible’ tunnel scene as a reference. The key is not the violent rape but the fact that the victim cannot escape. The slower the action and movements, the more horrible it feels.”
Doris Tislar stars as Alina. To end her family’s financial difficulties and help out her mother, Renata (Elina Reinold), she starts selling her body. But police officer Mart Arman (Indrek Ojari) is hoping to keep her off the streets and drugs. Instead, it gets him fired.
The twisted mother-daughter relationship is the heart of the story, admits Tääker.
“To understand Alina’s mother, it’s helpful to know Estonian history. It regained its independence in 1991, a year after Alina was born. Renata used to do well during the Soviet era as a restaurant manager. Then, she’s left with a daughter she didn’t want and an unhappy marriage. She desperately tries to regain her power – her daughter becomes her tool.”
As Alina is apprehended, young journalist Pille (Saara Pius) starts writing about the case, going on a dark journey herself.
“Lighter genres and stories are definitely an easier sell during times like these. Nevertheless, this is not an excuse to bypass topics with such impact and importance,” notes producer Toomas Ili.
“There’s always a need for crime-related stories. But for the same exact reason, that slate is also quite full and it’s getting harder and harder to find something outstanding. ‘My Dear Mother’ goes far deeper. It will leave you breathless at the end.”
Zolba Productions’ Jevgeni Supin calls the collaboration with Film.UA Group a “truly pivotal” aspect of the project, which also required digitally de-aging main actors.
“It’s a complex and technically demanding task. We turned to our long-standing friends and partners at Film.UA, who could also handle the distribution. Their team is exceptionally professional and has a cutting-edge production division specializing in innovative AI technologies.”
“‘My Dear Mother’ is a testament to the power of international collaboration and technological innovation,” adds CEO Victoria Yarmoshchuk.
“By bringing our expertise in high-end postproduction and AI-driven visual effects, we helped to shape a series that not only captivates with its storytelling but also sets new standards in audiovisual excellence. The selection for Berlinale Series Market Selects reaffirms our belief that bold creative visions and cross-border partnerships can lead to truly impactful content.”
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