Paper short abstract:

This is a documentary film about the Veps living in the north-western Russia, about their identity and language. Directors: Indrek Jääts, Maido Selgmäe Producer: Estonian National Museum, 2016 Languages: Estonian, Russian, Veps Subtitles: English Length: 55 min

Paper long abstract:

This documentary film is about the Veps living in the Leningrad Oblast in Russia, about their identity and language.

It is based on academic research focusing on the Soviet nationalities policy and the Veps ethnic identity in the late 20th century.

Whether to remain a Veps despite the circumstances or to blend into the Russians? Whether to hold fast native tongue or to switch completely to Russian?

Estonian ethnologists are travelling in the footprints of their former colleagues through the emptied villages. Scenes of the everyday life and interviews provide a view of the present-day life in the land of the Veps and the choices the Veps face today. Memory fragments and old photographs help to take a somewhat nostalgic look at a time when life still persisted there.

Film has English subtitles and could be demonstrated as high-quality file (H-264/MP4).