The Fencer (2017) Plot Summary Explained

Endel is fleeing Leningrad because he served in the German military during WWII, either voluntarily or through conscription. After the Soviet Union took control of Estonia, anyone who had served under Nazi Germany was branded an enemy of the state and faced severe punishment. This explains why he must stay hidden and why returning to Leningrad would put him in grave danger.

• endel nelis
• secret police
• wwii
• soviet occupation
• flee leningrad

Returning to Leningrad exposes Endel to the Soviet secret police, who would arrest him for his wartime service under the Germans. Aleksei's warning makes clear that Endel would face dire consequences if captured, likely imprisonment or worse. This creates his central dilemma: supporting his students' dreams means risking his own survival.

• leningrad tournament
• danger
• soviet secret police
• arrest risk

The principal grows suspicious of Endel's non-traditional teaching methods and mysterious background. In 1950s Soviet Estonia, authorities were vigilant about identifying former enemies of the state. The principal's investigation threatens to uncover Endel's true identity and past, which would expose him to arrest.

• principal
• investigation
• suspicion
• teaching methods

For students who lost their families during WWII, fencing becomes a form of self-expression and empowerment. The sport gives them a sense of purpose, community, and confidence that they lost when their families were torn apart. Endel uses fencing to help them channel their trauma into something constructive.

• orphans
• fencing
• empowerment
• self-expression
• war trauma

Many of Endel's students are orphans who lost their families during the war. Endel's dedication to teaching them fencing, caring about their wellbeing, and believing in their potential fills the paternal void in their lives. His commitment goes beyond just coaching, he provides emotional stability and hope.

• father figure
• orphans
• mentor
• care
• parental role

After WWII, Estonia was caught between Nazi occupation and Soviet control. Most Estonian men were conscripted into the German military during the war. When the Soviets took over, they treated anyone who served Germany as an enemy of the state. This created a society where people with hidden pasts like Endel had to live in constant fear of discovery.

• soviet occupation
• estonia
• nazi occupation
• post-wwii
• conscription

Aleksei is Endel's trusted friend who knows about his dangerous past. The warning about the severe consequences of returning to Leningrad reflects Aleksei's understanding of what the Soviet secret police would do if they discovered Endel's history. It underscores the real threat Endel faces if his identity is revealed.

• aleksei
• warning
• friend
• loyalty
• secret

The tournament represents both an incredible opportunity for his students to achieve their dreams and a deadly risk for Endel himself. Supporting their ambition means returning to the city where Soviet authorities would arrest him. Refusing to help would disappoint the children who depend on him. This forces him to choose between their dreams and his safety.

• tournament
• dilemma
• choice
• safety vs dreams
• leningrad

The students see the national tournament as a chance to prove themselves and escape their difficult circumstances. For orphans who have experienced loss and instability, achieving success in fencing represents hope for a better future. Their enthusiasm reflects their desire to find purpose and recognition despite their hardships.

• students
• competition
• ambition
• hopes
• dreams

Endel establishes himself as a respected teacher and founding a sports club, which earns him credibility in the community. However, his unorthodox teaching methods and mysterious background eventually attract the principal's attention. The more integrated he becomes, the riskier it is if his true history is uncovered.

• hide past
• disguise
• community integration
• risk
• exposure