Age rating: K-12

Published: April 17, 2023

Little Miss Sunshine

The dramatic comedy is about the Hoover family, where everyone has their challenges, and this is a boundary-breaking film about a happy family idyll.

The father is a motivational trainer who unsuccessfully tries to market the “nine steps to success” program. On the other hand, the conservative mother balances her own family and her brother – the brother has just gotten out of the hospital to recover from his traumas, which are caused by the loss of his boyfriend. The brother is still suicidal and depressed. Grandpa Edwin is a loud-mouthed hedonist who wants to enjoy pleasure by all means.

The children of the Hoover family include Olive and Dwayne. Dwayne is a boy who reads passionately the philosopher Nietzsche. In the film, he sulks strongly. When Olive accidentally receives an invitation to participate in a nationally known “Little Miss Sunshine” race in California, the whole family goes on a trip to cheer her on to success by cramming them into a small, yellow, rusty Volkswagen van. During the trip, the family encounters a breakthrough that changes their lives forever.

The film tells the story of how even those who make a poor living in society, can succeed.

The film won two Oscars: Best Supporting Actor and Best Screenplay.

Published: April 6, 2023

Juno

Juno tells the story of an outspoken and hot-tempered 16-year-old girl who unexpectedly becomes pregnant for her best friend Bleeker. However, after the natural initial shock, Juno gets the support of her family and she decides to give the child up for adoption to the perfect couple, because she is not ready to have an abortion either. This makes Juno explore herself, love, adulthood, and the world in general in ways she might never have otherwise.

The film won the Oscar for best screenplay.

Published: April 4, 2023

A united kingdom

Ruth and Seretse meet at a party and fall in love. However, their love is not easy, because in 1940s London, a romance between a dark-skinned person and a white-skinned one arouses aggravation. In addition to this, Seretse is the crown prince of Betsuanaland and the duties of a ruler call him. The film is based on true events.

Published: March 31, 2023

Beasts of the Southern Wild

The film is magical realism, where the main character is a 6-year-old girl named Hushpuppy. She lives with her father Wink in Bathtub, a dingy swamp in southern Louisiana, USA, where life is primitive and where people live in harmony with nature.

The commune of Bathtub is flooding because the continental ice is melting and this is causing the release of ancient beasts. Winki’s health is also deteriorating at the same time, so it’s time for 6-year-old Hushpuppy to face these challenges and survive them with honor.

Published: March 31, 2023

Moulin Rouge!

The film is based on the well-known Parisian nightclub Moulin Rouge and the events take place at the beginning of the 20th century. Satine (Nicole Kidman) is a well-known courtesan of a nightclub, who aims to succeed in her career and become an actress. Christian (Evan McGregor) is a young American poet who arrives with his friends at a nightclub to plan a new show. A romance develops between these two main characters, and the focus of the film is the development of their love story.

Moulin Rouge has used many well-known pop songs, such as Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” and “Material Girl”, The Beatles’ “All you need is love”, Elton John’s “Your Song”, the theme song from The Sound of Music and Nirvana’s ” Smells Like Teen Spirit”. It took almost two years to get the rights to the songs.

The film was successful at the Oscars and received two awards: best art direction-set Decoration and best costume design, and was awarded also at Bafta Gala.

Published: March 30, 2023

Sokkotanssi

In the movie Sokkotanssi (Trans. Blind Dance), the 60s are lived in a small Finnish town by the sea. Another of the main actors is a boy named Jontti. He is a very curious child who finds out about his father’s secret relationship with another woman. Jontti’s best friend from the neighborhood is Länki, who misses his father who lives out of reach. These aspects of life put a lot of pressure on the boys’ minds, which makes them do all kinds of naughtiness.

The film has well-known Finnish actors. Jontti’s father is Martti Suoaho, Pirkka-Pekka Petelius plays a barber and Vesa-Matti Loiri plays an alcoholic citizen in a small supporting role. Movie uses subtle humor, but also drama.

The film won the Jussi award for best screenplay.

Published: March 30, 2023

Olavi Virta

Olavi Virta tells the story of one of the most famous Finnish male singers of all time. His career dates back to Finland’s post-war era, and with the help of his music, Finns forgot their sorrows by dancing, partying, dreaming, and loving.

As Olavi’s career rose, the temptations of success came with it, such as alcohol and side relationships, and he did not manage to avoid them. Although the family stayed by Olavi’s side for a long time, in the end, nothing made the family stay by his side, despite his requests and promises.

Koulukino’s learning material is aimed at secondary school studies and high schools. The tasks consist of interpreting the interview video, information search and analysis tasks, and tips on places to visit which are made to honor Olavi Virta.

Published: March 28, 2023

Tolkien

“Tolkien,” tells the inspiring story of one of the most famous writers of our time, J.R.R. Tolkien. The film tells, among other things, about his orphanhood, his studies among love, friends, linguists, and artists, and his time as a young British officer in the middle of the First World War. Tolkien’s experiences have ultimately shaped him into the writer we know him to be.

Koulukino’s educational material deals with film production, a biographical film, growing up to be a writer, friendships, and studying and researching languages. The learning material is aimed at middle schools and secondary education.

Published: March 28, 2023

Ad Astra

Humanity is threatened by strange attacks that come from space. Astronaut Roy McBride (Brad Pritt) goes deep into space to find the reason for the attacks and at the same time to find his father who disappeared decades ago. On his way, Roy faces an unprecedented threat.

Koulukino’s learning material deals with polyphony, language methods for creating a personal image, information search, writing, analysis tasks, and philosophy discussion tasks. The learning material is aimed at secondary school studies.

Published: March 27, 2023

Life of Pi

The film is a survival drama about a young Indian man and a tiger, based on Yann Martel’s bestselling novel Life of Pi. It all starts with a Japanese cargo ship that gets into trouble at sea. Everyone else perishes except Pi, the zebra, the hyena, the orangutan, and the Bengal tiger named “Richard Parker”, so Pi’s survival doesn’t seem easy.

The film was awarded four Oscars: best direction, cinematography, soundtrack, and visual effects.