Chintis Lundgren

Manivald is the latest film by the prolific Estonian director Chintis Lundgren who, as a self-taught animator, created her own distinct visual style and meticulous hand-drawn animation. This time, she takes us into a household where Manivald, a 33-year-old fox, still lives with his mother. He realises he lives an easy but unfulfilled life. But everything changes with the arrival of a seductive wolf plumber…

After a young kingfisher falls out of its nest, it realises it will have to start living its own life. The film was again made for the Estonian Ornithological Society, this time to celebrate a year dedicated to kingfishers. Despite using humour, the film reflects important moments of the kingfisher’s life.

The life of a barn swallow is not easy. There are a lot of dangers on the way back home from Africa, bigger birds are pesky and some people even want to eat it. The weather is not always nice and there is not always a tasty insect to eat. The film humorously depicts facts from the life of this migrating bird.

Chintis Lundgren has made several spots for the Estonian Ornithological Society. This one-minute film depicts the dangers awaiting migrating birds. Unsuspecting, they set out to Africa, but how many will reach it? The sad thing is that it is mankind and its inconsiderate behaviour that puts obstacles in the birds’ way.

Volli is an Estonian guide who takes tourists around his homeland and acquaints them with the quirkiness of his countrymen. One day he wakes up only to find himself in a world of weirdos and paranormal phenomena. In this film, Chintis Lundgren abandons her beloved birds and showed that she can animate human characters with equal beauty.

The Great Grey Shrike is a strange story from the wilderness about the peculiar behaviour of the Great Grey Shrike, the common cuckoo, starlings and other birds. While starlings are social and like to a swig of something strong, the little bittern likes to frighten passers-by and the goldfinch is simply musical. The simple, “nervous” drawing perfectly resonates with a humorous take on the world of birds.