Theodor Luts

{{Short description|Estonian film director and cinematographer}} {{Infobox person | name = Theodor Luts | image = Theodor Luts by Voldemar Markus.jpg | image_size = 200px | caption = Luts, c. 1926-30 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1896|8|14|df=yes}} | birth_place = Palamuse, Estonia | death_date = {{Death date and age|1980|9|24|1896|8|14|df=yes}} | death_place = São Paulo, Brazil | other_names = | occupation = Film director, Cinematographer | years_active = | spouse = Aksella Luts | partner = | website = | awards = }}

'''Theodor Luts''' ({{osd|14 August|1896|2 August}} in Palamuse – 24 September 1980 in São Paulo) was an Estonian film director and cinematographer, brother of classic writer Oskar Luts. Theodor Luts was the first major figure of Estonian cinematography<ref name="EE">[https://books.google.com/books?id=lVBB1a0rC70C&pg=PA95&dq=%22Theodor+Luts%22&ei=ka28SJy6FZycjgH9ufDzBw&sig=ACfU3U2eiz_sopNukjEJQBv92kAZ1qUwJw Eastern Europe By Richard C. Frucht]</ref>

His ''Noored kotkad'' (''Young Eagles'') (1927) is generally regarded as the cornerstone of Estonian cinema.<ref name="Connor">[https://books.google.com/books?id=IpR0-OrrwssC&pg Culture And Customs of the Baltic States By Kevin O'Connor]</ref> ''Päikese lapsed'' (''Children of the Sun'') (1932), directed by Luts, was the first Estonian full length sound film.<ref>[http://www.estonica.org/eng/lugu.html?kateg=41&menyy_id=104&alam=57&leht=2 Film @ Estonica.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011001030829/http://estonica.org/eng/lugu.html?kateg=41&menyy_id=104&alam=57&leht=2 |date=2001-10-01 }}</ref>

After the Great Depression hit Estonia in the 1930s Theodor Luts produced mostly documentaries for a state subsidized film studio Eesti Kultuurfilm and also had a successful career in Finland.<ref name="EE"/> Twenty-four films by Theodor Luts made in Estonia have survived and are held at the Estonian Film Archives.<ref>[http://www.filmi.arhiiv.ee/fis/index.php?rows=25&page=1&lch_gen=3&act=search&mod=3&pealk=&tootja=&aeg1=&aeg2=&arhnr=&autor=Theodor+Luts&fnr=&fnimi=&mark=&fliik=0&lang=et&nocache=1220326598 Theodor Luts @ Estonian Film Archives]</ref>

Feature films directed by Luts in Finland include ''Salainen ase'' (1943) and ''Varjoja Kannaksella'' (1943).

After World War II and the Soviet occupation of Estonia, Luts emigrated to Brazil with his wife, actress and filmmaker Aksella Luts, where he directed ''Caraça, Porta do Céu'' in 1950.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0527490/ Theodor Luts @ IMDB]</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=0527490|name=Theodor Luts}} *{{Elonet name|105501}}, Films Luts made in Finland, accessed 24.5.2012

{{DEFAULTSORT:Luts, Theodor}} Category:1896 births Category:1980 deaths Category:People from Jõgeva Parish Category:People from Kreis Dorpat Category:Estonian film directors Category:Estonian cinematographers Category:Estonian emigrants to Brazil Category:Estonian expatriates in Brazil Category:Estonian military personnel of the Estonian War of Independence