Toomas Leius. Life On the Line

Local title
Toomas Leius. Elu joonel
Original title
Toomas Leius. Elu joonel
Director
Henrik Kalmet
Country
Year
2026

The contrasting extremes in the life of Toomas Leius, Estonia’s greatest male tennis player of all time.

On the one hand, a successful sporting career, including victories on Wimbledon’s famous all-white tennis courts. On the other, a dark personal tragedy involving the murder of his wife and years spent in a harsh and unforgiving Soviet prison. Tomas Leius’ subsequent life became a stark fusion of the Wimbledon white and the repressive black of fate – floating between two worlds, both in exile and at home, both integrated into society and marginalised, a legend to some, a murderer to others.

A white line ran through Toomas Leius’ entire life and career, defining and determining his highs and lows. On which side of the line does his legacy lie? In the annals of sporting history, or rather in the crime columns? And is it at all possible to reconcile these opposing sides?

Director
Henrik Kalmet
Producer
Heiko Sikka, Urmo Soonvald
Cinematographer
Heiko Sikka
Editing
Roland Abel
Music
Sander Mölder
Runtime
Subtitles

ESTONIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE SPORTS FILM PROGRAMME

Screenings

Screening060219 / Toomas Leius. Elu joonel
SubtitlesEnglish
Q&A guestsHenrik Kalmet (Director), Heiko Sikka (Cinematographer, Producer)
Q&A duration
Screening duration
Screening085218 / Toomas Leius. Elu joonel
SubtitlesEnglish
Screening duration
Hall 1 Kino Artis
Screening112117 / Toomas Leius. Elu joonel
SubtitlesEnglish
Screening duration