Category Archives: Finnish

‘SHADOWLAND’ (Beyond Fest 2024) A shapeshifting doc from filmmaker Otso Tiainen

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SHADOWLAND

shadowland

 

WORLD PREMIERE / RELEASED IN: 2024 / 98 MINUTES / DIRECTED BY: OTSO TIAINEN

Beyond Fest 2024 documentary SHADOWLAND, filmmaker Otso Tiainen sets out to the French Pyrenees to explore an area known as “The Zone,” a place famous for embracing the occult, supernatural happenings, religious experience, and the home of cult director Richard Stanley. This documentary takes a dark turn during filming when domestic abuse allegations surface for Stanley, tainting his position in the community.

Shadowland-002Shadowland’s initial 38 minutes drag with long, meandering shots, particularly of Iranon (“chaos magician) doing what I would lovingly refer to as “witchy shit.” As a self-professed spooky girl, I mean no disrespect by that term. Frankly, it’s narratively monotonous.

It only piqued my genuine interest when Stanley’s Color Out Of Space appeared. After its success, additional Lovecraftian films were greenlit until the other shoe dropped. Fifty-five minutes in, the gut punch as Stanley’s former partner recalls her terror when, in 2014, he beat her and threatened to kill her. Turns out she was not the last partner to experience such abuse. SpectreVision immediately cut ties with Stanley.

Shadowland-004Stanley’s response is to call the women hysterical and spew conspiracy theories rather than take accountability for his actions. Iranon reenters the fray to detail when he discovers Richard’s allegations and their ensuing physical confrontation. It’s damning.

Shadowland-003As a contrary view, Richard’s sycophant protege and priestess, Anaiya, believes that baptism will cleanse his past. Witnessing these women embrace him feels icky. It is challenging to know if her intentions are pure or an act. But Anaiya’s journey does not end there.

When we finally see his accuser, writer Scarlett Amaris, her insight into Richard’s present-day mythology brings everything home. As it stands, the doc feels incredibly disjointed. Understanding that the Shadowland‘s original intent was obliterated, I think a recut with explanations added earlier would greatly benefit the flow.



Directed by: Otso Tiainen
Written by: Otso Tiainen, Kalle Kinnunen
Story Contribution: Panu Hietaneva
Produced by: Kalle Kinnunen
Cinematography by: Max Smeds, Peter Flinckenberg F.S.C.
Edited by: Jussi Heikkinen, Mikko Sippola F.S.E.
Sound Design: Svante Colérus
Music: Timo Kaukolampi, Tuomo Puranen

Year: 2024
Country: Finland
TRT: 98 min
Language: English, French w/English subtitles

For more Beyond Fest 2024 coverage, click here!

Tribeca 2023 review: ‘JE’VIDA’ a meditation on identity and grief.

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JE’VIDA

With a face hardened by years of hurt, chain-smoking Lida carries the weight of a life defined by the shame and marginalization directed at her as a Sámi woman in contemporary Finland. Though strangers, she sets out alongside niece Sanna to clear out their long-held family home in preparation for its sale. Lida’s instinct to burn anything and everything connected to her past is quickly overcome by memories of a warm childhood spent fishing with a loving grandfather; of railing against the boarding school that tried to beat the Sámi identity out of her; and of being a young woman whose only option was a marriage that could take her far away from her Native roots. Lida finds herself facing a powerful reckoning with her past and a quiet reclaiming of her true self: Je’vida.

Stunning black-and-white cinematography beautifully captures a weary woman haunted by echoes of childhood. Lida reluctantly returns to her reclusive childhood home. Following the death of her estranged sister, her task to clear out the house for the new owner becomes complicated by the presence of her free-spirited and curious adult niece.

Director and co-writer (with Niillas Holmberg) Katja Gauriloff gives audiences a structure filled with flashbacks consisting of a youthful but trauma-laden home life, an abusive Christian school, and the death of those she held most dear. A third of the way through, we time jump to a young adult version of Lida where her innocence has spoiled. She becomes calculated and dispassionate, a defense mechanism for survival. Mixed with mesmerizing underwater shots and an elderly Lida quite literally burning her past, the film is visually breathtaking.

Young Je’Vida comes to life through the eyes of Agafia Niemenmaa. This personification of innocence is captivating against the stark quiet of Finnish snow and ice. She is a star. Sanna-Kaisa Palo gives present-day Lida a palpable lived-in trauma and definitive rage. Dismissive at the beginning, her healing journey comes with the shedding of shame and reclamation of identity through the next generation.

Another glorious achievement, JE’VIDA is the first ever to be filmed in the Skolt Sámi dialect, only spoken by roughly 300 people. Some of the most glorious moments come in coping mechanisms in the form of imagined conversations with Grandpa. He doles out wise words to soothe a wounded child. The idea of home comes full circle in the end. An emotional stunner, JE’VIDA is a meditation on shame and grief.

JE’VIDA

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TIFF22 review: ‘MY SAILOR, MY LOVE’ boasts beautifully complex performances.

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MY SAILOR, MY LOVE

In Klaus Härö‘s TIFF22 feature, My Sailor, My Love, Grace hires a much-needed housekeeper for her curmudgeonly father, Howard. When Annie enters their lives, the family dynamic reaches a breaking point.

The friction between Howard and Grace slowly comes to light. Grace’s bitterness towards Annie stems from an inability to let her father move on in life. As his lifelong caretaker, her deep-seated resentment proves a daunting hurdle for everyone. Catherine Walker gives a nuanced performance. You can feel the weary weight of the years. Anyone who has cared for an aging family member will recognize emotional exhaustion and perhaps a touch of martyrdom. Walker bears all in the role.

This endearing later-stage love story is as lovely as can be. Annie and Howard’s earnest chemistry come to life with the extraordinary performances by James Cosmo and Bríd Brennan. Beautifully paced histories of their former selves lend to its authenticity. So much of the script occurs in things unsaid.

Brennan plays Annie with a generous disposition. Anyone would be lucky to have her as a scene partner. Her presence fills the screen with warmth. Brennan is spectacular.

Howard exists through the emotional redemption of James Cosmo. Cosmo gives us every bit of himself as a man mired in hurt, fear, and shame. As Howard, he longs for happiness and must come to terms with past regressions to heal. It is an award-worthy turn.

The score from Michelino Bisceglia has a classic elegance. The thoughtful cinematography by Robert Nordström includes breathtaking ariel views and impactful tracking shots. The care and intention are impossible to miss. My Sailor, My Love will capture the hearts of TIFF22 audiences.

Finland, Ireland, 2022
English
WORLD PREMIERE
103 minutes
Director
Klaus Härö
Cast
James Cosmo, Bríd Brennan, Catherine Walker

SXSW 2022 review from Unseen Films: ‘The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See The Titanic’ (2021)

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The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See The Titanic

One of the great finds at SXSW, this is the story of Jaakko a  blind movie fan who has a long-distance relationship with a disabled woman he has never met in person. Because he is also in a wheelchair Jaakko’s mobility is limited so they have been unable to work out meetings. When circumstances take a turn Jaakko decides he has to make the trek to his lady love.

Beautiful romance turns thriller as we worry how this is all going to go. Things are made tenser thanks to director Teemu Nikki shooting the film to simulate blindness. Anything outside of our focus is blurry we can’t really see around Jaakko. It’s a genuine claustrophobia that heightens everything.

What makes this film work are the people. Everyone is wonderful. Actually, Petri Poikolainen as Jaakko is magnificent. This is an Oscar-worthy performance. It’s stunning. Poikolainen is so good that I want to see him in more films,  he’s so good that he makes it clear that we need to hire more people with disabilities. (Poikolainen is blind and has MS)

Highly recommended. This is one of the great finds of the festival

To read more of Steve’s coverage of SXSW22, head to Unseen Films!

TOPIC series review: Nordic Noir miniseries ‘PIECE OF MY HEART’ grabs you from the very beginning.

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PIECE OF MY HEART

(Pala sydämestäni)

In Helsinki, child protection agents, Rita and Laura, work tirelessly to protect children from recurrent trauma. A case becomes personal when it forces Rita to face her own disturbing childhood while Laura struggles to find work-life balance

Episodes 1 -3

Piece Of My Heart boasts a slick story structure. Laura is the newbie in Child Welfare Services and Rita is the old pro with serious baggage. Under a new director and with cases piling up, these two women must immediately pick up each other’s emotional slack to help the children and families under their care. As the plot progresses, clues as to what went wrong in Rita’s last case slowly reveal themselves to the audience. The nuance of performances, especially by women, in this series keeps you glued to your seat. We watch gaslighting, power struggles, intimacy issues, and the navigating of home life. You fully invested in each of them. Director Hanna Maylett and writing team Anna and Aino Lappalainen, masterfully plant the seeds of complexities. You’re kept on your toes in anticipation of something going awry. Leads Lotta Lehtikari and Niina Koponen are striking foils for one another, in every sense. Piece Of My Heart is a genre-bending series of mystery and drama. You’ll be sucked into the show from the very first episode.

***Golden Nymph Jury Special Prize Winner – 2021 Monte-Carlo TV Festival***
***Golden Nymph Television Nomination – 2021 Monte-Carlo TV Festival***

Streaming Exclusively on Topic Beginning February 17th
*Episodes 1-3 available on 2/17 followed by individual episodes each week*

 Directed by: Hanna Maylett (Sisters Apart, Suburban Virgin)
Produced by: Anita Kurvinen (Kotikatu, Tahdon asia)
Written by: Aino Lappalainen (Mersusta seuraava, Evä), Anna Lappalainen (The Spark, Tokio Baby)
Starring: Lotta Lehtikari (Seitsemän, On the Road to Emmaus), Niina Koponen (Urban Family, Rat King), Martin Bahne (The Border, Korso), Saimi Kahri (Täydellinen joulu, Pahan väri), Vilma Sippola (Flowers of Evil, Aktivistit), Manoel Pinto (Armi Aavikko – siinä välissä olin elossa)

About TOPIC
Topic is the boundary-pushing streaming service from First Look Entertainment for thrillers, mysteries, dramas, and documentaries from around the world, serving viewers who crave entertainment beyond the mainstream. Whether it’s a Nordic-noir crime thriller (The Killing), a back-stabbing, an Italian political drama (The Miracle), or a mind-blowing supernatural mystery from Russia (Dead Mountain), Topic expands your view of the world.

Featuring North American premieres, exclusive TV series and film, and programming from more than 40 countries, Topic showcases an unparalleled collection of creators, perspectives, and experiences. Complemented by our Topic Originals, we prioritize bold storytelling and champion underrepresented voices. Topic Originals and exclusives include Oscar® nominee The Letter Room (starring Oscar Isaac), Lambs of God (starring Ann Dowd), BAFTA® nominee The Virtues (starring Stephen Graham), Emmy® nominee The Accidental Wolf (starring Kelli O’Hara), Dark Woods, Gotham Award winning Philly D.A., and Soul City (directed by Chike & Coodie).

Topic is available to US and Canadian audiences on topic.com, AppleTV & iOS, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android & Android TV, Apple TV Channels, Roku Premium Channels, Bell Fibe, and Amazon Prime Video Channels. Topic is part of First Look Entertainment which also includes Topic Studios the award-winning entertainment studio which develops, finances, and produces content for all platforms.