East Toronto filmmakers unveil documentary Suurpõgenemine80/Great Baltic Escape 1994 marking 80th anniversary of the Baltic Exodus
By ERIN HORROCKS-POPE
This August, Mae Productions Inc. announced the upcoming release of Suurpõgenemine80/Great Baltic Escape 1994, a series of three short films commemorating the 80th anniversary of the mass exodus of Baltic citizens during the Second World War.
The project, spearheaded by Toronto-based sibling documentarians Tom and Reet Mae, shines a light on a pivotal moment in Baltic history—the flight of tens of thousands of people from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to escape the occupations of the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany.
For Tom and Reet, the story of the Great Baltic Escape is not just a historical event; it’s personal. They are the children of August and Leida Mae, Estonian refugees who escaped their homeland during the Second World War and eventually settled in Toronto.
As second-generation immigrants, the Mae siblings have spent the past decade gathering stories from survivors who fled their homelands during the war. Their motivation to collect these stories was inspired by their parents, who rarely spoke of their traumatic experiences fleeing Estonia.
“I always knew that our parents carried a lot of trauma from leaving Estonia,” said Tom. “As children, I remember seeing my father tear up whenever the topic of their escape came up, especially when he thought about those left behind.”
The Great Baltic Escape, which took place in 1944, involved a mass flight of people from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as they sought to evade Soviet reoccupation following a brief period under Nazi control. After the Soviet invasion in 1940 and subsequent mass deportations, the Baltic states were occupied by Nazi Germany in 1941.
However, as the Soviets advanced once more in 1944, tens of thousands of Baltic citizens fled their homelands, seeking refuge in Sweden, Finland, Western Europe, and even as far as North America and Australia. Many of these refugees formed strong Baltic diaspora communities that still exist today.
The Maes’ parents fled Estonia in 1944, initially seeking safety in Sweden. However, by 1951, they fled again, this time to Canada, after Sweden agreed with the Soviet Union to send expatriates back to their home countries.
August Mae, a former member of the Estonian Air Force, knew that returning to Estonia would likely mean exile to Siberia or execution. So, with their two young children, the family resettled in Toronto, joining a thriving Estonian community that had already formed there.
“From what we’ve learned, the Soviets were determined to eliminate anyone who might have the influence to support an independent Estonia,” said Reet. “Our parents were terrified, so they decided to flee once again—this time to safety in Canada.”
Patterns of Freedom, Tom and Reet’s first film on the subject, was released in 2015 and won multiple awards. The documentary focused on the women who preserved Estonian culture during their escape, showcasing their resilience and resourcefulness. These women, often fleeing with nothing but their skills and a deep love for their homeland, played a pivotal role in keeping Estonian traditions alive.
While producing Patterns of Freedom, the Mae siblings realized there were even more stories to tell, prompting them to create the three short films that now make up Suurpõgenemine80/Great Baltic Escape 1994. The films are being created in a co-production agreement with VEMU/Estonian Museum Canada, a not-for-profit organization that offers Canadian tax receipts for donations.
The duo have already held pre-screenings of the films in Estonian communities worldwide as part of commemorative events honouring those affected by wartime migrations.
Instead of a public release, the Maes are offering a series of pre-release screenings to organizations commemorating the 80th year of the Baltic flight in 1944. This fall, the films will be shown at Estonian commemorative events in Sydney, Australia; Washington, U.S.A.; and Hamilton, Ontario.
Interest has also been expressed by Estonian community groups in Latvia, Estonia, and other locations in Canada and the United States, with additional screenings in October pending confirmation. The feedback from these initial screenings will help prepare the films for public release and submission to film festivals.
Despite the early success of these screenings, Tom and Reet have bigger plans for the series and are currently seeking additional funding to bring their full vision to life. They hope to expand the reach of their films, ensuring that the stories of the Baltic escape can be shared with a broader audience.
“This project is incredibly personal for us,” said Reet. “It’s important that we give these films and these stories everything we can. It’s helped us understand so much more about what our parents went through and where we come from.”
The Mae siblings feel a deep sense of responsibility in telling these stories, not only to honour the individuals who shared their harrowing experiences but also to commemorate the countless lives lost during the exodus.
“We feel incredibly humbled that we’ve been trusted to tell these stories,” said Tom. “We want to make sure that we’re effectively honouring the many lives that were changed or ended during this difficult period.”‘
Given the sensitive nature of the subject matter, the siblings have decided to employ a mix of traditional filmmaking and AI technology to portray the traumatic experiences portrayed to them by survivors.
“Our goal is to remain faithful to the realities of what happened,” said Reet, “but to limit some of the more graphic content to ensure the films are accessible to a wider audience.”
The documentary series comes at a critical time, as echoes of history reverberate through current geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe. The Maes believe the themes of displacement, survival, and resilience will resonate with today’s audiences, who are witnessing similar stories unfold in regions like Ukraine.
Mae Productions Inc. invites those interested in learning more about Suurpõgenemine80/Great Baltic Escape 1994 to explore additional information online at https://balticstories.ca/projects
The project is still in need of funding, and support from the community will play a key role in helping Tom and Reet Mae complete the final stages of production. Tax-deductible donations can be made at https://eestilood.mpi.a2hosted.com/
