Works in Progress, Baltic Event Works in Progress
Our Erika
Overcoming her brutal childhood, a young woman becomes an Olympic gold medalist and the 'light of the nation'. Per aspera ad astra! The story is inspired by the life of the track bicycle racer Erika Salumäe.
This is a drama of a personal triumph over seemingly unsurmountable odds. Our Erika is the story of the track cyclist Erika Salumäe, from her painful and tortured childhood to her first Olympic win in 1988. Erika is a highly focused and a defiant fighter who wants to be the best bicycle racer in the world, driven by her subconscious need and desire to be loved. USSR is like a worn-out fairy tale where Erika as a young woman tries to survive. In this declining regime, under psychological and physical pressure, Erika transforms from a girl into an Olympic champion. Erika realizes quite quickly that success brings recognition but does success really bring the desired love? Will you be loved only if you produce visible results? In 1988, at the Town Hall square, Erika Salumäe was received as a national hero - our Erika.
Keywords: based on a true story, sport, abuse
Director's note:
Our film depicts Erika not as a hero but as a determined fighter striving passionately to prove that she deserves love. Erika's childhood lacks closeness, trust, and humanity. The death of her stepfather intensifies her distance, filling her with frustration and defiance. As a director, I aim to explore how Erika seeks sympathy, understanding, and love through sports achievements to overcome her painful past. Unintentionally using her traumas as motivation, she improves sporting success, yet it falls short of restoring inner peace. Erika learns that winning brings recognition but doesn't guarantee love and respect. She realises the tragic fate shared by many, especially athletes, where love is often tied to results.
Producer's note:
It is 1988, Estonia is about to regain its independence. The town hall square in Tallinn is full of people, their first heroes are being carried on their shoulders. Erika Salumäe, the first Estonian female athlete, has brought home a gold medal from the Olympics. The psychological sports drama Our Erika brings to the limelight one of the most successful Estonian female athletes who has had to overcome more challenges than many could imagine to achieve two Olympic gold medals and break numerous records. The film shows how a girl from an orphanage and an abusive foster home breaks through the walls of the male-centric Soviet sports world and works her way to the top. The story about Erika is inspiring and encouraging, important and timely, humane and understandable beyond borders. The completion of the film is planned for February 2026. We are looking for an international distributor and sales agent, postproduction funds.
Armin Karu (Hansafilm) is a successful entrepreneur with experience in business and entertainment. He was a co-producer on Estonia's submission for the 92nd Academy Award Truth & Justice (2019).
Elisa Estonia has been a major sponsor of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) for nine years, driven by a shared goal of providing unforgettable experiences to audiences of all ages and promoting Estonian culture. According to Elisa, PÖFF has been a consistent window into the world of arthouse cinema for them and many Estonians since 1997, introducing films that were previously unknown and underappreciated. Each year, the festival brings new and unique experiences, broadening horizons and offering the chance to explore the deeper layers of art of filmmaking. Many memories made at the festival linger long after it ends. As a major sponsor, Elisa Estonia’s dream and mission is to help PÖFF’s message and values resonate with society as widely as possible. Arthouse films offer new perspectives and enrich cultural experiences, and Elisa Estonia aims to ensure that these films reach as many Estonians as possible, serving as a source of inspiration and a platform for cultured conversation.
Studio Uljana Kim is a leading company in Lithuania for producing full length features. Since its foundation in 1997, 16 feature films and 8 documentaries have been produced by the company. Most of them premiered at the most important international film festivals and others were successful at the domestic box office. The company’s goal is to produce and co-produce high quality arthouse films intended for a worldwide audience.