The Estonian drama “The Fencer” is evidence that some things — like Hollywood-style dramas about an inspirational teacher and a bunch of plucky students — are universal.
The movie is based on the true story of Endel Nelis (played by Märt Avandi), who was a champion fencer back in Leningrad, but exiled to a small village in Estonia in 1952. The reason for his fugitive status: Like most Estonian men during World War II, he was drafted into Hitler’s army — and Stalin has declared them all “enemies of the people,” subject to arrest and imprisonment in a labor camp.