Rolling Papers Europa! Europa Film Festival 2026

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Date Reviewed: 02/02/2026

If I had to describe this movie in 2 words, I would say it was a palette cleanser. Refreshing, light and resets the senses.  Is it the main meal? No, but I enjoyed the time spent watching it regardless.

Set in Estonia, I was taken back to my early 20s and all the insecurity of the future, who you are, and how to be in a world that is your oyster (or the hope that it is anyway). The flip flopping between hopelessness and hopefulness that comes with you can do anything and nothing and have all the choices laid out in front of you. It was overwhelming and numbing at the same time. This is what I felt was the narrative of Sebastian, the main 20-year-old character.

Some scenes of this film felt a bit forced. Sebastian’s meeting Silo is one such example. The relationship felt like it escalated very quickly by the evening, when they only met that morning. Other moments seemed incredibly natural, like watching Sebastian and Nora’s interactions. I felt like they didn’t know they were being watched – the little stumbles as you awkwardly talk at the same time, or a kiss – I found myself smiling as I remembered what it was like to be in such moments. Out of the teenage years but not quite secure in adulthood, these moments were nostalgic and beautiful in their reality. I appreciated the rawness of Mihkel Kussk’s and Maria Helena Seppik’s acting together.

The cinematics had a strong character and stood out the most to me. The cool crisp yet muted vintage hue to the shots echoed the climate in Estonia. It exuded a (I’m going to use the word) vibe that I can only describe as refreshing and cleaning, just like a sorbet would be between courses. There were also choices in the narrative flow; scenes that jumped leaving the viewer questioning where you’re at and filling in the gaps yourself. This brings the viewer into the narrative because the viewer is at their own creative license as to how they see and fill the narrative spaces in their own head.

This was a sweet coming of age film that had me as the viewer relating to my own 20s experience as well as cringing at some of the ‘try hard’ behaviour we all probably did. During a time when you’re experimenting, exploring, throwing ideas for your future about, comparing choices, then throwing it all in the air and pitying yourself that it’s all too hard, and then a new spark of an idea comes and you start that cycle all over again. The innocence of hope is not hard to miss in all the characters’ storylines, and this makes for a light and heartwarming little film. 

Reviewed by Juliet Morelli