“Kalev” is, for this son of Estonian wartime refugees, a fascinating drama set in Tallinn and Russia just as the Soviet Union was collapsing in 1991, mere months before Estonia regained independence after half a century under the yoke of Stalin and his successors. Kalev is the official name of the country’s basketball team and here they wrestle with their political responsibilities as they partake in the last of the Soviet-wide games. Eschewing a single hero, the camera lens documents the games, the practice dramas, and moments in the lives of some players, but mostly the team itself is the protagonist. The backdrop of dreary Soviet-ness amidst news footage of turmoil captures the era well, the action cinematography is sprightly and dramatic, but a certain flatness pervades the story as a whole. Normal story arcs are left stranded or abandoned and the key figure of the coach, a gum-chewing, harsh-talking but ethical mastermind, never becomes fully explored. Overall, Kalev is a wonderfully entertaining and revealing period piece but misses chances to be much more.
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I once met Kalev and Olev, two Estonian sailors, who visited the Kieler Woche in Germany with their little vessel. I was a young soldier then in the German Bundeswehr and nobody was to know about me visiting the crew on board on the boat down at the sport boat Harbour at the Kiellinie. And I went there in my green Uniform – Boy, was I naive then. But those people were so friendly and warm I just couldn’t resist and spending time with them on board of their boat with beer and Wodka, white bread and fish in tomato sauce was fun. Just the right thing for a 18 year old and I will never forget.
The strangest turn of this true story is, that Kalev and Olev made me a spy🕵️ against the Soviet Union. They asked me, if I could sell two cans filled with fine Russian caviar they had smuggled in, and I did. 500 DM was a lot of money then and we went to the electric supply store the next day and bought stuff you need for funk Kommunikation. Top secret of course.
I lost contact after they went home and that’s a pity. And now I just remember their names and that they came from Tallin.
Reading this article brings all this memories back and I wanted to share. Maybe someone who reads my story knows my friends Kalev and Olev – if so, please give them my email.
Best wishes and best regards, Andreas
How fascinating, Andreas. One of my young family friends in Melbourne was named Kalev (it’s a common Estonian name).
Andres