FREE RANGE - BALLAAD MAIILMA HEAKSIITMISEST / FREE RANGE - BALLAD ON APPROVING OF THE WORLD

Fred, a film critic, finds himself out of a job: the editor-in-chief was not impressed by his hatchet job, richly punctuated with expletives, on Terrence Malick’s TREE OF LIFE. Fred’s not overly worried: he needs time for his own writing, having just completed his first novel, a lyrical if deeply pessimistic work. But he’s taken aback to learn that his girlfriend Susanna is expecting a baby; she’s got very strange fingers, and he’s not sure if he can ever love a woman with fingers like that. A night spent drinking with an old flame is enough to send him scuttling back to Susanna. Since the income from his art is not sufficient to keep a family, Fred makes a weary attempt to behave the way society expects. He takes a job as a forklift operator, but the film’s subtitle, which cites Brecht, indicates his sense of defeat and resignation. Underpinned with a magnificent soundtrack, FREE RANGE is the story of a rebel poet. Fred’s resemblance to Pete Doherty is more than merely physical: he too is fond of drugs, and prodigiously talented as well. His search for the way ahead is littered with excess, inconsistency, and moments of great tenderness: expressed by Veiko Õunpuu with his own strikingly energetic visual means.

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VEIKO ÕUNPUU
Born 1972 in Saaremaa, Estonia.
In 2006 he founded the production company Homeless Bob Production. His debut feature AUTUMN BALL premiered at Venice IFF in 2007 and won the Orizzonti Award. He received the European Talent Award for PÜHA TÖNU KIUSAMINE / THE TEMPTATION OF ST. TONY, which later premiered internationally at Sundance 2011 and was nominated for the best production design at the European Film Awards.


FILMOGRAPHY (SELECTION)
2005 / TÜHIRAND / EMPTY
2007 / SÜGISBALL / AUTUMN BALL
2010 / PÜHA TÖNU KIUSAMINE / THE TEMPTATION OF ST. TONY
2013 / FREE RANGE – BALLAAD MAAILMA HEAKSKIITMISEST / FREE RANGE – BALLAD ON APPROVING OF THE WORLD