The Ideal Landscape (1981): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1981, The Ideal Landscape is a drama film directed by Peeter Simm, running about 86 minutes.

What it’s about. In post-World War II Estonia, Mait Kukemeri, an activist of the Young Communist League arrives to the Metsa collective farm in the back of a traveling cinema truck. As a commissary of the spring sowing, he has orders to usher all the people to the field, even if the water is high enough to soak your boots and the machines sink in the mud. Harald Tuvikene, the head of the farm, keeps dragging his feet, trying to pitch his peasant wisdom against the senseless demands of the central power. For the first time in his life, Kukemeri faces a real problem - does he do what's right or does he follow the party's inept commands in order to further his own career? He starts ignoring the party assignments and gets involved with the local village life and the local pioneer activist, a young woman named Liina. Nobody wants to sow before the time is right and Kukemeri gets tangled in the web of white lies to his bosses. But no one can keep anything secret from the Communist party for long.

Who’s in it. The Ideal Landscape stars Arvo Kukumägi as Commissioner Mait Kukemeri, Tõnu Kark as Chairman Harald Tuvike, Kalju Komissarov as District Committee Secretary and Priit Adamson as Asser, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.0/10, The Ideal Landscape has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Ideal Landscape page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Ideal Landscape tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.