“Dance with the Devil's Grandma”
Alice Järvet
The film “Dance with the Devil's Grandma” summarises the sad truth about the “games” played at the edge by Konstantin Päts, the first President of the Republic of Estonia, and Johan Laidoner, the then Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces in Estonia. The film reviews their domestic policy activities and their role in the relationship with Soviet Russia that ended so badly for both these men – and for the whole Estonian nation. More than a quarter of a century ago Eesti Video AS, a company owned by Viktor Siilats, managed to acquire amateur video footage of the discovery of the final detention location of Konstantin Päts at the psychiatric hospital in the Russian town of Burashevo. An Eesti Video team of videographers was then present at the exhumation of the remains of President Päts, the identification process and re-burial in Estonia. The company’s archives have also yielded video reports on the re-opening of the monuments to Konstantin Päts and Johan Laidoner.
“That favourite expression of Päts, to dance with the devil’s grandmother if need be, must have paved his road to perdition. If you spill three drops of your blood to make that pact, don’t be surprised when a certain someone comes to collect you.” – Viktor Siilats
“The creation of the Republic of Estonia and its defence will always remain an extraordinarily good deed done by Päts and Laidoner, for which they earned the gratitude and respect of the whole Estonian nation. Yet the political activities of Päts are characterised by his own assertion that he would dance with the devil’s grandmother if such a need arose. If you dance so dangerously, where will you end up? You will go to hell, where else?” – Alice Järvet
Author: Viktor Siilats
Producer: Alice Järvet
Executive Producer: Helen Raiend
Narrator: Jüri Järvet
Music: Viktor Siilats
Interpretation: Andrus Rannaääre
Editor: Oliver Matkur