THE smallest of the Baltic republics, Estonia provides only a brief introductory glimpse into co-writer and director Ilmar Raag’s gentle, affectionate and emotionally carefully designed film but its underlying influence is pervasive.

In Tâllinn, francophone Anne has adult children and an alcoholic husband. After her dementia-stricken mother dies, a friend tells her of a vacancy keeping house for Estonian émigré Frida (Jeanne Moreau) inParis.

Remember Moreau? The dewy-eyed Catherine from “Jules and Jim” (1962) which made her name forever? In her 84th year, Moreau still has the performance chops for delivering a difficult character. Frida may have Estonian ethnicity but she has lived in Paris for most of her life. Her apartment is elegant. She is not short of francs. She has had many lovers. But in her twilight years she is alone – without siblings, children, social friends, carer. Only quondam lover Stephane (Patrick Pineau) has any concern about her.

As Anne, no radiant beauty, attractive in an unassertive way, Laine Magi is a class act. Anne knows her place in Frida’s household. But that doesn’t mean she will let Frida ride roughshod over her self-respect.

Flowing calmly among the three branches of this relationship, the screenplay extends a firm invitation for filmgoers to get involved. It offers credibility. Its characters are real. And you can’t help liking what the story’s telling.

At Palace Electric