Life and Love is Helen Takkin's first major film. It's safe to say it wasn't bad, but it could have been better. The original text was calm, typical of Tammsaare, and the film conveyed it with the right tone. What sums up the film is that when I watched it I was not bored, but I was also not full of anticipation as to what might happen next.
Technically the film was satisfactory. Considering that there were no big and extensive budgets and schedules to make this film, every shot conveyed the maximum of the moment.
Speaking of the acting, Mait Malmsten must be mentioned immediately. It will probably come as no surprise to many that an actor of his experience is capable of embodying someone he certainly cannot be in his private life. For this, the role of the seductive but manipulative charmer was a role that seemed to have been created for him. He conveyed, at just the right moments, both the pain of what he had done and the non-existent guilt of hurting others. Also worthy of mention is Karolin Jürise in the lead role, whose inexperienced actor's body reflected the aura of a convincing actress with years of experience.
