“The Soldier” is a Second World War story about Vorobyov, a minor KGB officer, who for the first time in his life enjoys some power. His prisoner is a general! Vorobyov would very much like to be someone, but humiliation of the general does not make him any greater. The general still dies like a soldier, and he remains nobody.When the Soviet Union occupied the Republic of Estonia in 1940, the entire government of the country was arrested. Among the prisoners, there was one of the establishers of the Republic of Estonia: General Johan Laidoner, the Commander-in-chief of the Estonian army. General Laidoner died in the prison camp in Siberia in 1953.

SOLDIER is based on the last years of the life of general Laidoner. The year 1940, Tallinn, Estonia occupied by the Soviet forces.

Vorobjov, a minor KGB official, is moping about in his office, all forgotten. No one needs him. He spends his days saluting to the bosses. One day, he is suddenly called out and given orders to help out in the interrogation of the imprisoned Estonian general. Vorobjov is half-Estonian and speaks Estonian. In addition, Vorobjov has battled together with the general years ago.

The imprisoned general does not recognise his war buddy. But Vorobjov remembers everything about the general. His battles, his sword and his white horse! To Vorobjov, the general personifies a dream version of himself. In the few days Vorobjov spends with the general, Vorobjov does all he can to become like the general and even if he cannot do that, he has the power to degrade the general into a nobody, just like Vorobjov is. This way, Vorobjov tries to win back his failed life. He would have wanted to be someone as well! Then, time runs out and war begins.

After the war, Vorobjov returns to the general, to a prison in Siberia. His chest is full of decorations, he is wearing glasses, he practically is the general, but is still not recognised! Nothing has changed. He is still the same Vorobjov whom no one needs. But the dying general remains a soldier even with his last breath.

Acknowledged Estonian writer, scriptwriter and film director. His first short story was published in the literary magazine Vikerkaar in July 1987. Since then Mart Kivastik has published stories and articles on literature, theatre and films in the magazines and in the newspapers.
Books published include: Tomorrow, Sparrow, Love stories, President’s children, The Portrait of a Freezing Artist to name a few.
Film credits as a scriptwriter unclude full-lenght Firewate, Taarka and a number of short films. Mart Kivastik is also a playwright, whose plays have been stages all over Estonia and abroad.His last feature A Friend of Mine was developed with ScripTeast and was a box office success in Estonia ant screened at numerous international film festivals.

Member of the Estonian Writers Society and FIPRESCI.

Awards: Prize for the best play from Estonian Culture Foundation (2000 and 2005); Friedebert Tuglas prize for short story (1999), Ed. Vilde literature prize (2005), Lääne-Virumaa literature prize (2007), Baltic Theatre Festival prize for the play Hellish Stuff (2006).