Woman on the edge: the world of Leida Laius

Estonian director Leida Laius was an unsung pioneer. Working from the sixties until the fall of communism, her films are striking for their empathetic exploration of the lives of women, from motherhood and marriage to sexuality. While she’s heralded in her homeland, like many female directors, her international reputation hasn’t kept pace with her talents – although there are welcome signs that this is changing, with a slew of new restorations and repertory screenings in recent years.

One such retrospective took place at the Spectacle Theater in New York earlier this year, programmed by critic and curator Kat Docalovich. This week, Sam is joined by Kat and Baltic cinema expert Josh Polanski to discuss the life and times of Leida Laius.

You can watch restorations of Laius’s final two films, Smile at Last and A Stolen Meeting, on Klassiki now, and read more about her work over on our Journal.

Get in touch: podcast@klassiki.online.

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