Machina Faust

Machina Faust is an intimate documentary about the internationally renowned Estonian musician, saxophone player and improvisational jazz composer Maria Faust.

Maria’s career started at the Kuressare Music School where she quickly realised that she wanted to be an artist. She landed at the Royal Danish Academy of Music because she’s always wished to have her music played but was forced to only play old, famous composers in Estonia. The musician’s journey in the film culminates with her piece ’Mass of Mary’, with the film observing the rehearsals and preparations for the premiere.

The creative source of Maria Faust’s work is strongly tied to the motives of her own life. All her work raises women’s issues and the opportunities for breaking through in a male-dominated world. Maria’s husband, Ned Ferm, is an important person in her life, and the film is very much focused on relationship between Maria and Ned. Ned also plays in many of Maria’s bands.

Maria is someone who has achieved the feminist ideal in a specific way – she’s able to pursue her creative goals and is financially independent. She’s also the dominating force in her relationship, but Maria is still instinctively looking for her more fragile and vulnerable side.