Level: high schools and vocational schools

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Published:

Väärät juuret

The father of the Kuura family, Mikko, has been diagnosed with a hereditary disease. He has not been able to come to terms with it or discuss it. As his condition worsens, his wife Mirjami has decided that it’s time to tell the children.

Sakari, Mikko’s son from a previous marriage, has been abroad for years. He has fled from his father and his demands to continue the family business. Pihla, the family’s 15-year-old daughter, wants to start her own independent life, and Lumi, the daughter adopted from China, begins a secret journey to find her own roots. Mikko’s illness brings the members of the Kuura family together under the same roof for the first time, forcing them to address questions of family continuity and to open up about long-standing issues within the family.

What will remain of us? Clothes wear out in a few years. Dishes are kept until the next move. Furniture breaks or goes out of style. A pile of memories – they last until no one remembers anymore.

Director:
Saara Saarela

Starring:
Milka Ahlroth
Pertti Sveholm
Silva Robbins
Niko Saarela

Note: No longer available on DVD or Blu-ray distribution.

Published:

Ompelijatar

The movie tells the story of how the life of a poor, semi-deaf woman leads to an inevitable conclusion in early independent Finland. She was arrested as a member of the Red Guard women’s company in 1918 and sentenced to a prison camp. Since then, she has been marked as “classified as dangerous to society.” In the 1920s, she was actively involved in leftist youth associations in Helsinki, led a literary committee, and writes for organization newsletters.

The state police have all the rights to intervene in radical activities; the unity of the nation must be ensured by any means necessary. In the early 1930s, communist activities are banned by law, and accordingly, paranoia increases. The State Police monitor and report on the lives of thousands of people. The distinction between treason and heroism becomes blurred.

Martta Koskinen never makes a fuss about herself, but she is reported several times. She meets Hertta Kuusinen in prison, which leads her to the circles of the intelligentsia. She works diligently as a seamstress, among others for the writer Hella Wuolijoki. She always helps her juniors to the best of her abilities and during the Continuation War, she assists conscientious objectors, compromising her own modest standard of living.

She becomes a messenger for the underground resistance movement, whose activities are almost non-existent, largely due to the mutual squabbling of a small circle. She hides a leading communist figure, Hertta Kuusinen’s fiancé, Yrjö Leino. When caught, she refuses to reveal anything.

Martta Koskinen is seen as a traitor, a spy, an enemy collaborator. To some, she is a prisoner of conscience, a dissident, a pacifist.

“The Seamstress” is a human rights story from 70 years ago and at the same time a story of young Finland.

Director:
Ville Suhonen

Starring:
Vera Kiiskinen
Laura Birn
Elena Leeve
Pekka Milonoff

The film was awarded the Best Documentary Film Jussi Award.

Note: Not available on DVD or Blu-ray distribution.

Published:

Anyone But You

Bea and Ben seem like the perfect couple, but after some hot first dates, something changes, and their relationship turns icy. When they unexpectedly run into each other again on the way to the same wedding in Australia, they have to act like any two mature adults: pretending to be a couple.

Published:

Nimby

The events kick off when the urbanized Mervi takes her girlfriend Kati to the countryside to visit her parents for the first time. Mervi is worried that her parents will have a hard time accepting the couple – especially since Kati’s mother is Iranian and her father is German – but it turns out that Mervi herself has a lot more to digest once they arrive. The parents’ peculiar, open relationship, Mervi’s ex-boyfriend involved with neo-Nazis, her semi-religious godparents, and the conflicts arising from the refugees who have moved to the area don’t exactly make the visit easier.

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Poor Things

Bella is a young woman, whose brilliant yet eccentric scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter brings back to life. Initially, Bella is eager to learn about life under Baxter’s wing. However, in her thirst for life, she embarks on a turbulent journey across continents with the slick and debauched lawyer Duncan Wedderburn. Through this, Bella, who has shed her previous prejudices, grows into a steadfast advocate for freedom and equality.

The film was awarded four Oscars:

1. Best Actress: Emma Stone received this prestigious award for her portrayal of the young Victorian woman named Bella Baxter, brought back to life.
2. Best Production Design: James Price and Shona Heath were recognized for the visual world of the film.
3. Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier, and Josh Weston created impressive makeup and hairstyling.
4. Best Costume Design: Holly Waddington was responsible for the stunning costumes, transporting viewers to the Victorian era and the steampunk adventure.

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Monsterimies

The only official documentary film about Lordi, the Finnish national hero, a creative monster genius, who with his band won Finland its first Eurovision title. For the first time in the film, we get behind the scenes, where the band’s frontman Mr. Lordi, Tomi from Rovaniemi, has experienced great success and acceptance from the masses following the victory. Two years later, Lordi has become a commercial brand, but Tomi suffers from a total collapse and is unable to create anew. The pressure to succeed is immense from both fans and the general public.

Will Tomi manage to keep his monster band together and find the joy of childish creation crucial for a new Lordi album amidst difficulties? The film exclusively follows the challenging everyday life of the popular monster band behind the curtains and presents unique, previously unseen archive material from the inception of the monster dream in Tomi’s childhood years.

Tomi swears eternal loyalty to 80s heavy metal and never intends to grow up. The film is about the fervor of creation and the courage to be exactly what one believes in, even if the 1980s heavy metal monster is no longer the trendiest thing in the world.

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The Color Purple

Separated from her sister and children, Celie faces numerous hardships, including an aggressive husband. With the support of a singer and her stepdaughter, she ultimately finds exceptional strength in the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood. The musical film is based on Alice Walker’s novel of the same name and features performers such as Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey. The songs in the musical blend jazz, R&B, and blues, adding their atmosphere to the film.

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The Call of the Wild

“The Call of the Wild” is an adventure film released in 2020, based on Jack London’s novel of the same name. The movie follows the story of a dog named Buck, who is taken from California to the Alaskan wilderness to become a member of a dog sled team. Buck must adapt to harsh conditions and find his place within the pack. Along the way, he befriends John Thornton, who teaches him important life lessons. The film provides a modern interpretation of Jack London’s classic and highlights its timeless themes. Starring Harrison Ford and Terry Notary in lead roles.

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Wish

The story set in the magical kingdom of Rosasin revolves around a clever girl named Asha, who deeply cares about her community. When Asha turns to the starry sky in a moment of need and makes a wish, she receives a response from a cosmic force—a small, energy-filled orb named Star. Together, they encounter a mighty enemy to save Asha’s community and prove that when the will of a brave individual merges with the magic of the stars, miracles can happen.

Voice actors include Ariana DeBose (Asha), Chris Pine (Magnifico), and Alan Tudyk (Valentino).

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Trolls Band Together

After a wholehearted friendship spanning two movies and constant flirtation, Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) are now officially a couple (#popsu)! As they get to know each other better, Poppy discovers that Branch has a hidden past. Branch was part of a boy band called BroZone, admired by Poppy, which also included Branch’s four brothers: Floyd, John Dory, Spruce, and Clay. However, Branch was just a child when BroZone disbanded, leading to the breakdown of their family, and he hasn’t seen his brothers since. But when the wicked pop star duo—Velvet and Veneer—kidnap Branch’s brother Floyd because of his singing skills, Branch and Poppy embark on a fast-paced and emotional journey to reunite the brotherly band and save Floyd from an even worse fate than fading into obscurity.