Documentary "STATE TRAITOR"

On 19 September 2008 Security Police surprisingly detained Herman Simm, former Ministry of Defence official and the keeper of NATO and Estonian top confidentialities. He was caught as a result of uncommon international cooperation, involving Estonian and several Western countries’ special services.

Only few knew the name of Herman Simm before he was exposed, and even less knew his powerful position during the last few years.
 
Documentary “High traitor” examines how a boy from Suure-Jaani became a Soviet militiaman who, by constantly moving up the career ladder, came to be a top official and who had an overview of the correspondence containing the strategic secrets of 28 member states of NATO. How a man that had received high state awards and was hiding behind a respectable façade, became a “mole” and made not a single mistake that could have given a reason to suspect him during 13 years in leaking information to Russian intelligence.
 
On 25 February 2009, Harju County Court approved settlement procedure on a closed session, which meant for Herman Simm a 12.5 years imprisonment, 21 million kroons claim and personal bankruptcy.

Four months later, Herman Simm gave an interview for the film. And this film is a story, told by the traitor himself, his close relatives, friends, colleagues and enemies, looking deep behind the scenes, about the double game – about the keeper of Estonian state secrets and Russian intelligence agent and about the espionage mystery, several participants of which have been exposed by today, while its investigation is to continue for many long years. 

Duration: 88 minutes
Premiere: 5 November 2009

Producing company: Testfilm/NBN
Cooperation partner. ERR, co-financier: EFSA 

Work group: 
Script: Mihkel Kärmas and Rasmus Kagge
Director:  Erle Veber
Producer: Ene-Maris Tali
Camera: Tauno Sirel, Margus Malm
Sound: Martin Vinkel
Lighting: Hendrik Saks
Artist: Ivi Piho
Graphics: Atko Januson
Composer: Timo Steiner
Post-sound editing: Horret Kuus
Editing: Margo Siimon and Erle Veber

Treiler: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy9MIY9R0Nk