N.American premiere of "Mis värvi on paradiis?", Q&A with film producer Mare Kallas

If you have ever wondered “why are there so many Estonians in North America?”, Mis värvi on paradiis? provides the answer. Sweden was a first refuge for many who fled Estonia, but it did not offer the safety they had hoped for. Through one young man’s story, the film reveals how war, displacement, and Soviet repression set in motion the journeys that eventually brought so many Estonians across the Atlantic.

Join us for the North American premiere of Mis värvi on paradiis?, presented in Estonian with English subtitles. Written and produced by Mare Kallas and directed by Sören Tali, the documentary brings this remarkable story to the screen through personal testimony, historical records, and Elmar’s own diaries. Following the screening, Mare Kallas will join us for a brief Q&A about the film.

About the film

In 1944, sixteen-year-old Elmar is forced into a brutal war. Escaping to Sweden, safe haven seems within reach—until the nation turns its back. Sweden’s shocking extradition of seven Estonian young men to the Soviet Union shattered all illusions of security. This betrayal alters their destinies and triggers a wave of further migration, driving thousands of Estonians to pick up and cross the ocean to North America in fear of the Soviet shadow. Spanning half a century, this moving story reveals the catastrophic ripple effects of geopolitical decisions through one man’s long, unforgettable journey toward forgiveness.

As we celebrate 35 years since Estonia restored its independence, this screening brings our history into focus. The choices Elmar and his peers faced—displacement, exile, and the fight to keep their identity alive—are the direct reason so many Estonian families ended up here in Canada.

Mare Kallas

Mare Kallas (born 1963) is a former teacher from Saaremaa. Since returning to her home island, she has initiated and carried out several remembrance projects dedicated to preserving Estonians’ experiences during the Second World War and ensuring that their stories are not forgotten.

Her research project, Helene – Mastid Mäletavad (2023) [The Memory of Masts], has been published as a book and also inspired a unique memorial at Kõiguste Harbour, which tells the story of wartime refugees and their journey to freedom.

Her documentary film, Mis värvi on paradiis? (2026) [What colour is paradise?], offers greater insight into why, for many Estonians, the journey to the free world did not end in Europe, but continued across the Atlantic to North America. She will be offering a Q&A after the screening.