Kadunud unistus

The documentary Kadunud unistus (“Lost Dream”), directed by Sergei Zjuganov, is the filmmaker’s debut feature. It takes viewers to Estonia in the 1990s - a period when newly regained freedom, the influence of Western car culture, and a rapidly changing society shaped the identity and dreams of an entire generation.

The film is not only about cars, but largely about people. Through the stories of participants from very different backgrounds, it reveals a multi-layered portrait of a decade that influenced the whole society. Their personal memories also offer a broader reflection on Estonia’s recent history.

The film features some of the most expensive and rare cars seen on local streets in the 1990s - machines that became symbols of freedom, success, and status.

Kadunud unistus combines rare archival footage, recollections from those who lived through the era, and a contemporary visual documentary language to create an honest and atmospheric portrait of a transformative decade in Estonia’s cultural history.

It is an independent auteur film, produced outside state funding models - driven by personal initiative and community support. This gives the film a direct and personal perspective on an era that shaped an entire generation.

The film will resonate both with car culture enthusiasts and with anyone interested in the social transformation of the 1990s and its lasting impact on present-day Estonia.