In 1952 a young fencing champion Endel arrives in a small town Haapsalu to work as a physical training teacher. For an introvert man it is hard to get contact with the children who have been through a lot.

In spite of the opposition of the principal of the school, Endel manages to get a permit to teach fencing for children. Slowly it becomes a therapy for the children as well as the teacher himself – a way to deal with everyday grim.

The defeated principal is holding a grudge and starts to investigate, why did the champion of the Soviet Union really come to a small town.

“The Fencer” is partly based on true life events of an Estonian sportsman and coach Endel Nelis (1925-1993)