directed by Grigori Kromanov, sci-fi, 87 min, eng subtitles
written by Arkady Strugatsky and Boris Strugatsky
with Uldis Pūcītis, Jüri Järvet, Lembit Peterson, Mikk Mikiver, Sulev Luik, Kārlis Sebris
The film is shown to celebrate 100 years of Estonian cinema
Inspector Glebsky is summoned to a remote mountain lodge. To the proprietor's knowledge, nothing is amiss, but poor driving conditions force Glebsky to spend the evening with the hotel's strange guests. When an avalanche cuts the chalet off from the rest of the world, mysterious events are set into motion - with dire consequences for the guests: Olaf is found dead, and Hinckus tied to his bed, while a man turns up outside the hotel, nearly frozen. Even the physicist Simonet cannot explain the origin of a strange briefcase found near Olaf's lifeless body. Glebsky springs into detective mode, but the facts lead him to a conclusion that his logical mind cannot reconcile.
Based on a story by the Strugatsky brothers, Grigori Kromanov's science fiction whodunit poses the question of whether the rational mind is prepared for a close encounter with the supernatural. Top-of-the-line artistic ensemble work and Sven Grünberg's unforgettable musical score create a suspenseful atmosphere that is closer to classic sci-fi themes than today's feature films with their preponderance of special effects.
Awards:
Trieste International Fantastic Film Festival 1979 (Silver Asteroid)