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Estonia 2024

Estonia 2024

Filmmaker and journalist Jaan Tootsen revisits the Tallinn neighborhood featured in his documentary, “New World.” The building behind served as the center for a group of idealistic, counterculture millennials intent on turning a section of this neighborhood, Uus Maailm, into a pedestrian-only community of coffee houses, art galleries, parks, retail shops, music and sports venues. Tootsen chronicled their controversial quest over a five-year period, ending in 2011. The effort failed. But the concept inspired others, resulting in successful community-based neighborhoods elsewhere in Estonia’s capital and other cities. The community house, which was in disrepair during filming, has been renovated. It’s now a restaurant where I met Tootsen for coffee after an on-line introduction the previous day. Visibly, there’s little else left from the “New Age” days, adding to the melancholy Tootsen felt upon his return to Uus Maailim. Aside from documentaries, Tootsen, 48, has since 1999 produced “Night University,” a popular public radio program featuring expert lecturers on varied topics – an Estonian precursor to TED Talks. He’s presently completing a film on the colorful and unconventional life of former Estonian President Toomas Hendrick Ilves.

Estonia 2024

Estonia 2024

Filmmaker and journalist Jaan Tootsen revisits the Tallinn neighborhood featured in his documentary, “New World.” The building behind served as the center for a group of idealistic, counterculture millennials intent on turning a section of this neighborhood, Uus Maailm, into a pedestrian-only community of coffee houses, art galleries, parks, retail shops, music and sports venues. Tootsen chronicled their controversial quest over a five-year period, ending in 2011. The effort failed. But the concept inspired others, resulting in successful community-based neighborhoods elsewhere in Estonia’s capital and other cities. The community house, which was in disrepair during filming, has been renovated. It’s now a restaurant where I met Tootsen for coffee after an on-line introduction the previous day. Visibly, there’s little else left from the “New Age” days, adding to the melancholy Tootsen felt upon his return to Uus Maailim. Aside from documentaries, Tootsen, 48, has since 1999 produced “Night University,” a popular public radio program featuring expert lecturers on varied topics – an Estonian precursor to TED Talks. He’s presently completing a film on the colorful and unconventional life of former Estonian President Toomas Hendrick Ilves.

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