Estonian co-produced thriller Birthday Girl lands on Jupiter

ERR’s Culture Portal is recommending the 2025 thriller drama Birthday Girl, which was largely filmed aboard Tallink ships and is now available on Jupiter.

The film takes place on a cruise ship travelling to the Caribbean. Its main character is Nanna, a single mother who gives her daughter Cille an 18th birthday present by buying cruise tickets for the two of them and Cille’s friend.

The trip begins with high expectations and a lively first evening. The next morning, Nanna discovers that her daughter is missing. When Cille is eventually found, it becomes clear that something terrible has happened.

The film was directed by Michael Noer, known for Before the Frost, Papillon and Northwest. The leading roles are played by Trine Dyrholm, Flora Ofelia Hoffmann Lindahl, Herman Tømmeraas and Maja Ida Thiele.

Birthday Girl was produced by Nordisk Film Production, with Estonia’s Nafta Films serving as co-producer. The producers were Rene Ezra and Matilda Appelin, while Andreas Kask and Esko Rips of Nafta Films led the production in Estonia.

Filming took place in Estonia in spring 2022, involving nearly 250 Estonians. A 100-member production team was also assembled in the country. The film was shot aboard Tallink ships at sea and in port, at the Tallink Spa and Conference Hotel, and at the Black Box film studio in Viimsi.

The film’s Estonian premiere took place at PÖFF, attended by the director and Trine Dyrholm, among others.

Birthday Girl is available on Jupiter.