R&A x Amos Anderson Fund: Miami & Masterclass

In the brave film by Zaida Bergroth two estranged sisters meet and get under each other’s skin.

Angela (Krista Kosonen) is a glamorous show dancer and the younger sister Anna (Sonja Kuittinen) is a timid country girl at the verge of adulthood. Anna becomes enchanted by Angela’s habit of breaking norms and starts following her to her dance performances.

Miami is a road movie disguised as a crime drama with its dept collectors and eastern mobsters. Choosing thriller as the genre is a bold move, but one that makes the coming of age stories of the sisters feel lighter. The same effect is brought on by the glittery dance scenes and roaring pop tunes. Time is spent on the road and in seedy motels. The realities of life are waiting right around the corner, but the intoxicating power of beauty keeps the young women moving. The destination is Miami.

The film investigates the ways in which the bravery and norm-breaking behaviour of young women is frowned upon. When women take space it is simultaneously fascinating and annoying. It is wonderful to see such an empowering film from a female perspective. Angela and Anna are complicated people who build their own story, together.

Saara Tuusa, R&A 2017 (translated by Johanna Järvinen)