Private Project

Take it or leave it

What would you do if one day a newborn baby was put on your hands and said: take it or leave it!

  • Liina Triškina-Vanhatalo
    Director
  • Liina Triškina-Vanhatalo
    Writer
  • Ivo Felt
    Producer
  • Reimo Sagor
    Key Cast
    "Erik"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Võta või jäta
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 42 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    September 12, 2018
  • Country of Origin:
    Estonia
  • Country of Filming:
    Estonia
  • Language:
    Estonian
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1:2,35
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Warsaw International Film Festival
    Warsaw
    Poland
    International Premiere
  • CineEast International Film Festival

    Luxembourg
  • Noordelijk Film Festival

    Netherlands
  • Cottbus International Film Festival

    Germany
    Best Actor Award
  • Arras Film Festival

    France
    Jury’s Special Mention, Critics’ Award
  • International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg

    Germany
  • Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
    Tallinn
    Estonia
  • AFI Fest

    United States
  • Palm Springs International Film Festival

    United States
  • 17th Pune International Film Festival

    India
  • 42nd Göteborg Film Festival

    Sweden
  • Santa Barbara Film Festival

    United States
  • 34th Mons International Film Festival

    Belgium
  • Chicago European Union Film Festival

    United States
  • 20th edition of the Festival International du Film d’Aubagne Music & Cinema

    France
    Grand Prix
  • Vilnius Film Festival

    Lithuania
  • 26th Prague International Film Festival – Febiofest
    Prague
    Czech Republic
  • Annapolis Film Festival

    United States
  • 47th Belgrade International Film Festival

    Serbia
  • 37th Fajr International Film Festival

    Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • Baltic Film festival San Francisco

    United States
  • American Cinematheque

    United States
  • Northern Lights Nordic-Baltic Film Festival

    Belarus
  • Seattle International Film Festival

    United States
  • Shanghai International Film Festival

    China
  • Baltic Debuts Film Festival
    Svetlogorsk
    Russian Federation
Director Biography - Liina Triškina-Vanhatalo

Film director, screenwriter and editor Liina Triškina-Vanhatalo was born in 1976 in Pärnu, Estonia. She studied cultural studies at Tallinn University, at the European Film College in Denmark and at the Catalonia Film School in Spain. She has worked as a screenwriter and editor on numerous documentary films and TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT (2018) is her debut feature. The film was chosen as the Estonian candidate for the Academy Award for best foreign language film.

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Director Statement

“Take It or Leave It”, based on a true story, is a social drama with motifs of tragicomedy about defining gender roles and especially the role of the father in an era where family models are changing, women become emancipated and men no longer know what’s expected of them – to be a macho or a softy or both all in one.
This is a story about daredevil courage and an unconventional choice which changes the main character Erik’s life in cardinal ways, a choice which forges a Superman, an everyday hero out of this ordinary man.