The narrative, set after World War II, draws from actual occurrences. It functions as a historical film offering both inspiration and warmth. The Fencer bears a strong resemblance to Estonia’s version of Karate Kid; it truly stands out as the most uplifting movie I've encountered recently.

Seeking refuge while pursued by a past trauma, the film—a 2016 Golden Globe nominee and Finland’s submission for the Academy Awards that didn't make the final cut—is set in Estonia during the early 1950s, when it was still part of the USSR. It tells the story of Endel Nelis, a man fleeing danger who arrives in the small town of Haapsalu to teach schoolchildren sports. He intends to remain inconspicuous while his l…