The Palestinian drama Alam is a coming-of age story set in a unique context.
Love & Anarchy Spring Break returns to Helsinki with four days full of the magic of cinema and new premieres 21.–24.3. The festival’s full program has now been published, and ticket sales have begun. The programme is brimming with passion and presents 13 features as well as a short film screening titled Love & Lust.
Love & Anarchy Spring Break opens with the Finnish premiere of La Chimera by Alice Rohrwacher on Thursday 21.3. This touching comedy set in 1980s Tuscany focuses on digging up the past – both literally and figuratively. From grave robbing to longing for past lovers, the characters in Rohrwacher’s critically acclaimed film try to find happiness through things that are long gone. Though humorous in tone, the film critically examines how Italy’s glorious past is dug up and sold to anyone willing to pay. A unique film, La Chimera exists in a universe of its own, somewhere between Federico Fellini and Indiana Jones. The film received praise from critics when it had its world premiere at Cannes in May 2023, and will be released in Finnish cinemas on Friday 19.4.
Director Virpi Suutari’s brand new documentary Once Upon a Time in a Forest will be premiered at the festival, followed by a panel discussion in collaboration with Greenpeace and B-Plan Distribution. The documentary follows young environmental activists who aim to protect nature and all its quirks – from lichen to willow tits. Through the eyes of the young activists, the documentary offers the audience an unexpected and fresh narrative of forest protection. The screening is in Bio Rex Lasipalatsi on March 23rd at 15.15. Attending the panel is free of charge. More information on the HIFF website hiff.fi. Once Upon a Time in a Forest will arrive in cinemas on 28.3.
French director Anna Novion’s film Marguerite’s Theorem premiered at the Cannes film festival last spring and will now be shown in Helsinki for the first time. Marguerite’s Theorem follows a talented mathematician, Marguerite (Ella Rumpf), who storms out of France’s most prestigious university and starts a new life on the streets of Paris. The previously introverted young woman starts to open up and finds an opportunity to make money using her mathematical skills by participating in underground mahjong gambling. Ella Rumpf won the award for Best Female Revelation at the César Awards for her role as Marguerite. The director Anna Novion will be in Helsinki to present the premiere of her film at the Spring Break festival. The film will arrive in cinemas on 3.5.
In the film Alam, Palestinian director-screenwriter Firas Khoury tells the story of a Palestinian teen’s political awakening and rebellion in Israel. Tamer’s laid-back student life is forever changed when charming and politically active Maysaá transfers to his school. This spark of rebellion leads to the teenagers planning an act of defiance on Israel’s Independence Day, during which they plan to switch the school’s Israeli flag to a Palestinian flag. Audience members can choose to buy a donation ticket (15e) of which 3 euros is donated to the work of Doctors Without Borders in Gaza.
The Love & Anarchy Spring Break also presents more festival gems from Cannes and Venice. Catherine Breillat’s provocative love triangle drama Last Summer as well as Mika Gustafson’s strong directorial debut Paradise is Burning.
You shouldn’t miss the documentary gems Let the Canary Sing, a touching biopic about the singer and activist Cindy Lauper, and She Chef, a documentary that follows one woman’s ambitious journey to the top of the culinary world.