The Fencer (2015)

[Drunk Monk]

The story of Endel Nelis, an Estonian fencing master under post WWII soviet rule. He had been drafted by the Nazis during the war, and even though he went awol, the soviets were still hunting for him. Fleeing Leningrad, he hides as a teacher in a backwater town. The school principal has issues and Nelis is obligated to lead a sports club, and winds up teaching what he knows best - fencing. This is a heartfelt Euro flick that earned noms from the Academy and the Golden Globes. It's a quiet film, thoughtful in the cold crumbling postwar town. I haven't heard much Estonian and wouldn't have recognized it. There are no recognizable actors. It's very humble. The finale fights (this is a sports movie so it's fencing bouts really - kids bouts) is preposterous and predictable, but also kinda sweet. Not mind blowing but it put fencing in a positive light and didn't fixate upon it too much. The film remained character driven - it's not about the action. 

There are sword fights. In knickers even. Recommended for DOOM fencers.