Narva is an Estonian city located on the border with Russia. Although Estonian is the only official language in Estonia, 87% of Narva’s population are so-called “Russian speakers.” As the third largest city in the country, Narva has often felt unintegrated into the rest of Estonia. Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, this sense of estrangement has grown stronger. Narva has found itself at the center of political and media attention, frequently sparking debates among Estonian politicians.

The project consists of three videos. The first captures the daily life of Narva—its homes, streets, portraying rhythm of life. The second video uses footage from public surveillance cameras. It is notable that Narva has only three publicly available webcams, all positioned near the border, showing it from different angles. The third segment depicts a military parade, the celebration of the “Day of Remembrance of the Fighters of the Liberation War” is taking place right on the square opposite the border. The city is filled with people in uniform and with military equipment.

Narva’s existence raises many difficult questions: can two cultures coexist in a politically tense environment? What does it mean to feel part of a country that doesn’t seem to fully accept you? And how can Narva become a city that is not only understood but truly embraced by the rest of Estonia? These questions remain open, but I think the answers are worth looking for in places like Narva.

Video 1 – City (14 min):

Video 2 – Parade (14 min):

[Demonstrational Video]