Klass (2007)

Director:

Ilmar Raag

Writer:

Ilmar Raag (writer)

Release Date:

16 March 2007 (Estonia)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

An average guy of an Estonian high-school decides to defend his bullied classmate. This starts war between him and the informal leader of the class. As teenagers' honour is a touchy thing, everything ends in bloodshed.

Plot Keywords:

High School | School | School Shooting | Bully | School Violence

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Vallo Kirs	...	Kaspar
Pärt Uusberg	...	Joosep
Lauri Pedaja	...	Anders
Paula Solvak	...	Thea
Mikk Mägi	...	Paul
Riina Ries	...	Riina
Joonas Paas	...	Toomas
Kadi Metsla	...	Kati
Triin Tenso	...	Kerli
Virgo Ernits	...	Tiit
Karl Sakrits	...	Olav
Liina Joonas
Saara Kadak
Kaspar Kannelmäe
Brita Kikas

Also Known As:

The Class (International: English title)

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

Estonia

Language:

Estonian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Sweden:15 | Germany:16 (f)

Company:

Amrion

Trivia:

At the beginning of the film, one of the students is wearing a shirt of Traianos Dellas of Greece's national soccer team. He became the champion of Europe in 2004 as part of the team.

Goofs:

Continuity: Kaspar cut off the mark on his jacket on the fourth day, but on the sixth day in the beach scene his mark is still on the jacket.

Quotes:

Kaspar: What is honor? I think we're speaking about something else. We say 'that sucks' or 'this blows'. We don't say honor.

Realistic high school experience; not innovative, but still good

Even though I have seen this - school violence - before (as mentioned, in "Elephant" by Gus van Sant or even in soviet "Chuchelo") I liked "Klass". The development of the story sometimes was too predictable or over exaggerated, at the same time it wasn't boring at all.

It is always hard to understand why young people take one position or another in situations depicted. It is especially hard when you are an adult and high school seem to be very distant in time. But let's be honest, systems of relationships among high school students are functioning in the same way as we see it in the movie. I give it "9" just for what the "Klass" is without comparing it to similar-themed productions. I believe the story, as I do believe in it's power to invoke a discussion about all kinds of violence among the youngsters.