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Poster for Smile at Last

Smile at Last

Seen it?

1985 | 85 min | Drama, Family

Monday Morning Maybeearly rating

Why it’s a Monday Morning Maybe

With almost no lasting buzz and soft box office, this one could be a tough watch. Keep your phone handy.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for families. If you loved The Secret Life of Bees, start here.
The mood
Feel-good.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 25 min.
What might put you off
  • No age rating on record, so check it first for young kids.
  • It's in another language, so expect subtitles (or a dub).

16-year-old Mari, raised without a mother by a drunkard father, is put in an orphanage which she immediately, though unsuccessfully, tries to flee from. The sensitive Mari finds it hard to adapt to the coarse manners and brutal games amongst the children. Only gradually does she develop a sense for the similarly difficult fates of her fellow sufferers, who have long forgotten how to cry. She even falls in love for the first time, not with her self-appointed “protector” Tauri, but with the rough-mannered Robi.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsNot counted

    Not enough reviews on record yet

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerBelow par

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 1K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Leida Laius

  • Monika RaideMari
  • Hendrik ToompereRobi
  • Tauri TallermaaTauri
  • Katrin TamlehtKatrin
  • Kerttu AavingKerttu
  • Edith-Helen KuuskMelita
  • Siiri SisaskSiiri
  • Janika KalmusAnne
  • Helle KuningasTeacher
  • Mari LillRobi's Mother