| Melchior the Apothecary | |
| Director: | Elmo Nüganen |
| Music: | Liina Sumera |
| Cinematography: | Mihkel Soe |
| Distributor: | Taska Film, Nafta Films, Apollo Film Productions, Hansafilm |
| Country: | Estonia, Latvia, Germany |
| Language: | Estonian |
Melchior the Apothecary (Estonian: Apteeker Melchior) is a 2022 Estonian historical mystery film. It is the first instalment of the Melchior trilogy, based on the novels by Indrek Hargla. The film focuses on apothecary Melchior Wakenstede, who solves crimes in medieval Tallinn. The film is directed by Elmo Nüganen.[1]
The film was set to premiere in October 2021, but was delayed to April 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]
The second part of the trilogy is scheduled to be released in August, and the third in October, making it the first time in Estonia film history where an entire trilogy will premiere within a single calendar year.[3]
Filming locations in Tallinn included St. Catherine's Monastery, Danish King's Garden, Town Hall Square and Pikk Jalg street. Some scenes were also filmed in Kuressaare Castle.[4]
The film is one of the most successful in Estonian cinema history with cinema admissions of 125,500 by 31 August 2022. It is one of only 11 Estonian films to receive over 100,000 cinema admissions since Estonia restored independence.[5] [6] The film received a limited release in Vantaa, Finland, with producer Veiko Esken citing the response as positive and planning to screen the sequels in Vantaa, as well.[7] [8]