An anonymous tip-off sends Inspector Peter Glebsky to the “Dead Mountaineer’s” Alpine hotel. But it is not until the isolated inn is cut off from the outside world by an avalanche that there is actually a murder – of one of the notable, but eccentric guests. As he investigates the tricky case, the inspector reaches the limits of what might be considered rational detective work.

Based on a book and screenplay by the Russian brothers Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, the film is a classic of fantasy cinema that blurs the lines between genres. Underlaid with the psychedelic synthesiser sounds of Estonian composer Sven Grünberg, what starts as a traditional whodunnit segues into a surrealistic farce, moves from film noir to science fiction. Oscillating between Magic Mountain and The Shining (1980), modernistic interiors and glistening shots in deep snow create an enigmatic atmosphere. The renovation was based on a new 4K scan of inter-positive elements held by the National Archives of Estonia.