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The Last Relic (in Estonian language Viimne reliikvia) is an historical drama film produced in the then Soviet-occupied Estonia in 1969. It became one of the most popular films ever made in the country, and some critics have even called it "the only Estonian cult film".Sulev Teinemaa: "Viimne reliikvia" kolmkümmend aastat hiljem
The film is loosely based on Prince Gabriel or The Last Days of Pirita Monastery, a 1893 Estonian historical fiction novel by Eduard Bornhöhe.
The film's content editor was later president of Estonia Lennart Meri.
As the abbess learns of Agnes’s disappearance, she sends monks to track her movements, using carrier pigeons to communicate. Meanwhile, Gabriel and Agnes grow closer, but their happiness is cut short when they are attacked by bandits led by Ivo Schenkenberg. Ivo captures Agnes and severely wounds Gabriel, though Agnes manages to escape and return to her aunt in the convent. Gabriel, surviving the attack with the help of his friend Siim, searches for Agnes and finds assistance from Ursula, a young nun who helps him evade the convent’s pursuers. Gabriel reaches the monastery but is lured into a deadly trap by Brother Johannes, the abbess's scheming advisor. Ursula once again aids Gabriel, freeing him and sending word to Siim to meet him in Tallinn.
Brother Johannes continues his manipulations, orchestrating events that lead to Ivo murdering Risbiter and stealing the relic for the convent. However, Ivo is also ensnared by the abbess and placed in a stone trap. The abbess, desperate to maintain control, tortures Agnes to force her into taking monastic vows. Meanwhile, Gabriel learns of Agnes’s supposed marriage plans and rushes back to the monastery. He arrives in time to kill Ivo, interrupt the forced ceremony, and rescue Agnes. With Siim and Ursula’s help, Gabriel fends off armed guards and leads a peasant uprising that destroys the monastery. As the rebels set the convent ablaze, Gabriel and Agnes ride to freedom, accompanied by Siim and Ursula, leaving the ruins of the abbess’s power behind them.
Scenes for the movie were recorded in Tallinn Old Town, passages of the Dominican monastery of Tallinn, Taevaskoja, as well as other places. A monastery set was built in Kukerand, near Virtsu. Several outdoors scenes were taken in Latvia, near the Gauja river. Indoors scenes were, among other places, taken in the fortress of Kuressaare and the Tallinn church of St. Nicholas.
A typical live action movie of the era had a standardised budget of 350,000 . As a special case, the team of Viimne reliikvia managed to haggle themselves a budget of 750,000 roubles — more than double the customary. This lavishness paid off very well, as within the very first year, 772,000 tickets were sold in Estonia only. (Remarkably, Estonia's population at that time was around 1,300,000.) The movie set the absolute box office record for the entire Soviet Union in 1971 by selling 44.9 million tickets. Bridging the Cultural Divide By Sigrid Rieuwerts; p. 325 Box office for Viimne reliikvia @ IMDB It was distributed by the Soviet film export internationally in more than 60 countries.
In 2000, the Estonian Film Foundation and Tallinnfilm determined Viimne reliikvia to be an important part of Estonian cultural heritage, and in order to preserve it, undertook a digital remastering. This became the first digitally remastered Estonian movie; others followed.
The digital copy was re-launched on 15 March 2002, and again, became a bestseller. As of 2007, the remastered movie is available on DVD.
Vocals: Estonian: Peeter Tooma (et), Russian: Georg Ots
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