Our Erika

An evening screening of a film about the Estonian track bicyclist Erika Salumäe, with a talk by its director. Born in 1962, Salumäe grew up in orphanages and foster homes amid an abusive home life and the harsh sports system of the former Soviet Union, yet went on to smash world records and win numerous medals. Her ultimate triumph was the first Olympic gold medal for Estonia in 56 years after the country regained independence in 1991. Directed by German Golub, the film features Karolin Jürise as the determined, iron-willed athlete, showing how every nation needs a hero—even if it seldom asks what the hero needs.