Manfred Vainokivi: Rakvere maja peidab uskumatuid asju
·24 min·2 clips
Manfred Vainokivi discovers his grandfather was a secret founder of Estonian society, not just a family joke.
The episode features an interview with Manfred Vainokivi, a documentary filmmaker, discussing his personal archival project. He began by trying to make an agreement with the United States but found no response, leading to a deeper exploration of family history. Anneli Soba, a theater person, helped by finding archives that revealed his grandfather's significant role in Estonian society, beyond being a family joke. Vainokivi initially had only names but now understands the people behind them, with relatives and writings coming to life. He found 340 photos of his grandmother, compared to just three initially, and read her diaries, gaining insight into her youth. A love story emerged between his grandmother and Lilli Muik, a classmate who wrote a poem about her, discovered in the archives. Vainokivi describes the Rakvere house as being in poor condition, without a toilet originally, and filled with documents that he considers a child's burden. He has been writing daily Facebook stories for 220 days, sharing short narratives to engage readers, including his daughter. The house has been cared for by women historically, and he is the first man to take on this responsibility. He mentions collaborators like Marju Lepet, his film producer, who helps with scripts. Vainokivi expresses openness to further findings from relatives or classmates, as each picture makes his heart beat faster. He notes that many people discard family archives without looking, risking the loss of history, and acknowledges the burden of such projects. The episode touches on his documentary work, including a film about Eerika Salumäe set for release in 2027. Vainokivi reflects on how family stories can be overturned by archival evidence, creating dramatic turns in understanding. He hopes to produce a film, book, or play from this material but feels overwhelmed by the process. The interview concludes with his gratitude and a summary of his work in Rakvere.
