We’re proud to open Critics’ Picks with a bold and unforgettable film from one of Estonia’s most exciting voices in cinema, writer-director Eeva Mägi. “Mo Papa” follows Eugen, a 28-year-old who has just been released from prison after serving ten years for a tragic accident – the death of his younger brother. Haunted by a childhood marked by abandonment and unresolved trauma, Eugen returns to a world that has moved on without him. His only ties now are his estranged father and two childhood friends. As Eugen searches for forgiveness and a second chance, old wounds threaten to pull him back into a cycle of self-destruction. Love and blame blur in this deeply human story about the scars we carry, the people we push away, and the redemption we crave.

Shot with striking authenticity and raw emotion, “Mo Papa” is unscripted and shaped by real experiences and voices. Reflecting on her time working in a psychiatric clinic, Mägi describes the film not as something she wrote, but as something she felt, breathed, and lived. This is a film that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled – a daring, heartfelt exploration of trauma, love, and the fragile hope of healing. Don’t miss this powerful cinematic experience!

Nikolaj Nikitin