‘The Fencer’ joins Cinemaverse lineup
The Goethe-Institut Namibia is relaunching its popular Cinemaverse Film Series with The Fencer, a critically acclaimed film co-produced by Estonia, Finland, and Germany, and directed by Klaus Härö. The screening takes place on Tuesday, 22 July.The Fencer is inspired by real events and tells the story of Estonian athlete and coach Endel Nelis (1925–1993). In 1952, Endel arrives in the small Estonian town of Haapsalu. A former fencing champion, he takes up a job as a physical education teacher. Despite resistance from the school’s principal, he obtains permission to teach fencing to the children.
What begins as a simple sports class gradually becomes something more meaningful for both the children and Endel. The lessons offer a therapeutic escape from the difficulties of daily life. But the principal, bitter over being overruled, begins to dig into Endel’s past and question why a top Soviet fencer really came to such a quiet town.
Director Klaus Härö describes the film as a story with a deeply human message. Reflecting on Nelis’ journey from elite athlete to schoolteacher, he says: “Many of us have taken paths reluctantly at first, only to discover something meaningful along the way; an opportunity, a purpose, a reward.”
The Fencer was nominated for a Golden Globe in the Best Foreign Language Film category and has received numerous other international accolades.