August 2025 Scandinavian Film & TV column
By Anders Lorenzen
Photo: Midnight Sun Film Festival
When talking about the Nordic midnight sun, the first thing that comes to mind is unlikely to be a film festival.
The Midnight Sun Film Festival, which takes place in Finnish Lapland, celebrated its 40th edition in the middle of June; held at this time to coincide as much as possible with the summer solstice. It sets itself apart from other festivals by showing films without a break, while the sun shines around the clock.
The films this year represented a mixture of showcasing Nordic independent cinema and world cinema.
It was a blend of new releases and re-screenings of previously released films, including older classics, feature length as well as shorts.
Photo: Midnight Sun Film Festival
Nordic highlights at the festival
Some of the highlights included the experimental and artistic Finnish film Kronos Kairos, which premiered at the festival. The film, shot in black and white, is timeless and stark. It is directed by the Finnish multi-artist Herra Ylppö and is a modern story inspired by the character Dulcinea from the novel Don Quixote.
Rörelser (Raptures) is a Finnish/Swedish co-production set in the 1930s in the far north of Sweden, by Swedish director Jon Blåhed. It tells the story of a strict Christian believer who feels that she has no choice but to join when her husband forms a sectarian movement with directions straight from God.
The Finnish/Swedish/Estonian co-production Orenda tells the destinies of two women who intertwine on a remote island through guilt and grace. One is a recently widowed singer who arrives on the island, and the other is a local priest. It is directed by Finnish director Pirjo Honkasalo.
100 litraa sahtia (100 Litres of Gold) is an Italian/Finnish co-production by the Finnish director Teemu Nikki. In the comedy, two middle-aged sisters in a Finnish village promise to brew beer for a wedding but drink the entire batch.
In Perhoset (Butterflies), a 29-year-old woman and her optimistic father embark on a journey of self-discovery, confronting their truths amidst the chaos, as they navigate the complexities of their relationship and find their paths in life.
Anders Lorenzen is a Danish blogger and film and TV enthusiast living in London.
Web: msfilmfestival.fi/en/movies
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