The Fencer

For the novel trilogy, see K. J. Parker.

The Fencer
Film poster
Miekkailija (Finnish)
Vehkleja (Estonian)
Directed byKlaus Härö
Written byAnna Heinämaa
Produced by
  • Kaarle Aho
  • Kai Nordberg
Starring
CinematographyTuomo Hutri
Edited by
  • Ueli Christen
  • Tambet Tasuja
Music byGert Wilden Jr
Release date
  • 13 March 2015 (2015-03-13)
Running time
98 minutes[1]
Countries
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • Germany
Languages
  • Estonian
  • Russian
Budget€2 million

The Fencer (Finnish: Miekkailija, Estonian: Vehkleja)[2] is a 2015 biographical drama film about the life of Endel Nelis, an accomplished Estonian fencer and coach.[3] It was directed by Klaus Härö and written by Anna Heinämaa. Filming began in Estonia in late February 2014.

The film was selected as the Finnish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards,[4][5] making the December shortlist of nine films, but it was not nominated.[6][7] The Fencer was also nominated for the Golden Globe award in the Best Foreign Language Film category as a Finnish-German-Estonian co-production.

The Fencer was released in the U.S. by CFI Releasing in 2017.

  1. ^ "The Fencer (PG)". British Board of Film Classification. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  2. ^ Hepner, Juhan (25 February 2014). "Nelise-filmi esimene võttepäev Haapsalus". Lääne Elu. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  3. ^ Reiljan, Kaire (16 March 2015). ""Vehkleja". Kaks lugu, elu ja tõde filmis" ["The Fencer". Two stories, life and truth in film] (in Estonian). Lääne Elu. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  4. ^ "Klaus Härös Fäktaren är Finlands Oscarkandidat". HBL. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  5. ^ Holdsworth, Nick (1 September 2015). "Oscars: Finland Selects 'The Fencer' for Foreign-Language Category". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  6. ^ "9 Foreign Language Films Advance In Oscar Race". Oscars. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  7. ^ Kilday, Gregg (17 December 2015). "Oscars: Nine Titles Advance in Foreign Language Category". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 18 December 2015.