Australian Estonian Arvi Lehtsalu does what many dream of while stirring their morning coffee: moves his family back to Estonia. This profile by film director Anthony Noack pairs everyday life with sweeping Tantsupidu scenes and Virmalised performing on the stadium floor.
Arvi arrived with a four-year-old, a six-month-old, and the kind of optimism only a returning Estonian can muster. Within weeks, the baby learned to crawl, the big brother discovered snow (even a millimetre counts), and the whole family embraced bog walks, forests and the quiet magic of tiny-country living.
But the heart of the film lies in Arvi’s Tantsupidu (Estonian Dance Festival) experience dancing with Virmalised — especially that moment before Tuljak, when thousands of dancers stream wordlessly onto the field and the world falls into an eerie, perfect stillness. As Arvi tells it, you don’t forget the sound of 10,000 people not making a sound. And yes, it’s as spine-tingling as it sounds.
Between dance rehearsals and nature adventures, Arvi also stepped back into his old role as packaging manager at one of Estonia’s major craft breweries. He walks us through the 75-metre canning line with the enthusiasm of someone who genuinely loves machines — and good beer. (Tip: ask him about the birch-infused lager that tastes like sauna wood.)
Watch the video by clicking below.
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