“Critic’s Pick! Satisfyingly blends kung fu, heavy metal and Orthodox Christianity. Remind[s] us that walking on water is a skill shared by both Jet Li and Jesus” (Amy Nicholson, The New York Times). See The Invisible Fight (dir. Rainer Sarnet, Estonia, 2023), a quirky Estonian action comedy about a Soviet dissident’s quest to become a kung-fu master! The screening is part of our Estonian Cultural Days in New York, organized in partnership with the Estonian Ministry of Culture, the Consulate General of Estonia and the Foundation for Estonian Arts and Letters.
Estonia, 1973. Young conscript Rafael has just returned from the Soviet-Chinese border, the sole survivor of a surprise attack by flying kung-fu warriors. Eager to learn more about the technique that took down his fellow soldiers, Rafael’s growing obsession shows him that there’s more to life than Soviet conformity. He soon embarks on a quest to master the art of kung-fu, finding unlikely mentorship at an underground Orthodox monastery. With a skeptical mother, a rival apprentice, and a budding love interest pulling him in different directions, Rafael finds that his journey to unlock the greatest martial art of all—the almighty power of humility—is long, winding, and full of kick-ass adventures.
About the Director
Rainer Sarnet was born in 1969 in Rakvere, Estonia. As a director and writer, he is best known for November (2017), The Invisible Fight (2023) and Vaino Vahingu päevaraamat (2021).