A heist film tinged with black comedy, the story begins in 1991, with Estonia having just declared its independence from the Soviet Union. A band of gangsters hatch a plan to hijack the small Baltic nation's $1 billion worth of bullion, about to return to the capital after years of hiding in Paris. Toivo, a naive electrician, is commissioned to perform the key element in the plan - plummeting the city to darkness on the appointed midnight hour. Not a hardened criminal, Toivo is encouraged by his very pregnant wife to take the job. What follows is an edge-of-your-seat story involving childbirth, blackout, politics, and above all, love.
After premiering at the Toronto Film Festival, City Unplugged went on to become a sleeper hit at Sundance, and to win the "Silver Alexander" at the Thessaloniki Film Festival. Playing to raves in major international cities, the film was praised by the Village Voice as "A Superbly Taut Thriller" and the NY Post's V.A. Musetto as "One of the Year's Best"
Breaking News! August 28, 2008 -- The London Times lists City Unplugged: Darkness in Tallinn at number Two on their list of "The Ten Best Crime Films"! Other films on the list include "Usual Suspects", "Fargo", and "Resevoir Dogs". Check out this top ranked crime film with the best set of gangsters in the movies today! See the clipping from the London Times report here!
