November (2017)

"November" is a visually arresting cinematic tapestry woven from the threads of the acclaimed Estonian novel "Rehepapp" by Andrus Kivirähk. It paints a world where the stark reality of survival intertwines with the ethereal whispers of magic, black humor, and the timeless pangs of romantic love. The canvas is a pagan Estonian village, a realm caught between two worlds, where the lines blur between the tangible and the mystical, with werewolves, the plague, and wandering spirits as much a part of the landscape as the hardy villagers themselves. Winter's icy grasp holds the village in a vice of relentless cold and darkness, and survival becomes a desperate dance where nothing is sacred. The villagers, driven by the primal instinct to endure, steal without remorse - from each other, from the aloof German manor lords, from elusive spirits, and even from the devil and Christ themselves. Their souls become currency traded to peculiar entities known as kratts, thieving constructs of wood and metal that steal more in a relentless cycle, even when the barns are bursting at the seams. As the villagers sink deeper into this obsessive compulsion, they begin to mirror the soulless kratts they command. At the heart of this tale is Liina, a young farm girl ensnared by an unrequited love for a village boy named Hans. Her love is a fierce, wild thing that morphs her into a werewolf and compels her to plunge into a frigid pond, ready to embrace death in love's name. Amidst the practicality of their harsh existence, the farmers grapple with an existential quandary: what value does a life hard-won through ceaseless toil hold if it is devoid of a soul? "November" is an exploration of souls, interweaving Estonian pagan and European Christian mythologies in its narrative. Both mythologies, in their quest for miracles, seek the ancient force that breathes life into a soul. It delves into the soul's yearning, the cost of selling one's soul, and the hollow existence of living without one. This film is a hauntingly beautiful meditation on the profound question of what it means to truly live.

November is a drama movie featuring Rea Lest and directed by Rainer Sarnet.

November is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and it's also available on Night Flight Plus and OVID.

It is also possible to buy November on Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, Vudu and YouTube or rent it on Spamflix.