Hukkunud Alpinisti Hotell (aka Dead Mountaineer's Hotel) (1979)

A police inspector (Uldis Pucitis) is trapped by an avalanche in a ski lodge. When a murder is committed, there's a wealth of suspects. But there's something strange going on that suggests this was no ordinary "murder". Based on the novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky (who adapted their book for the screen) and directed by Grigori Kromanov (THE LAST RELIC). An overly complicated combination of murder mystery, film noir and science fiction. If, when the movie is over, you're scratching your head trying to piece together what you've just seen, it's most likely exactly what the writers and director want you to do. The film is seen as an attempt by the filmmakers to subtly question the then Soviet Union's (the film itself is Estonian) attempt to obstruct philosophical and biological ideas that don't conform to their particular tenets. I didn't warm to it but I appreciated its novel creativity in addressing the subject as an entertainment rather than giving us a heavy handed lecture. With Juri Jarvet, Lembit Peterson, Irena Kriauzaite, Nijole Ozelyte and Karlis Sebris.