The Cinematheque

“Expertly crafted … Hanna Kuirinlahti’s editing [transcends] coming-of-age film expectations.”

Joshua Polanski, The Bay Area Reporter

In the spring of 1986, the nuclear power plant in Chernobyl explodes, spreading fear and radioactive clouds across Europe. At the same time, teenaged Mariia (Rebekka Baer) falls for Mimi (Anni Iikkanen), who has just moved to her small village in Finland. As this strange and dangerous time unfolds, they experience their first passionate summer of love together, despite relentlessly ominous messages on the radio about the faraway disaster. When Mariia returns to her hometown 20 years later to care for her ailing mother, complex memories of that fateful summer with Mimi keep rising to the surface. Alternating between past and present, Finnish director Inari Niemi (Wonderland, EUFF 2018) delivers a sensitive, moving coming-of-age story, skillfully navigating between Mariia’s sunny, hopeful youth and her sombre, challenging present.

In Finnish with English subtitles

Streaming
December 1 (Sunday) through
December 15 (Sunday)

This film is available to stream in Canada only. Streaming ticketing links will be available soon.

Please note: Tickets to in-person screenings do not include access to online EUFF offerings, nor vice versa.