Children of War and Peace

For the first time in its history, Finland became an autonomous state when it broke away from a crumbling Russian empire in 1917. Witnessing the upheaval of the First World War and all too aware of the threat posed both outside and within its borders, the newly installed government initiated harsh and draconian policies for its younger generation. All children and youths were drilled in the importance of discipline, rectitude and nationalism. With no exceptions.

Comprising archival footage, photographs, radio programmes, books, magazines and a wealth of propaganda material, alongside first-hand accounts and diary entries of children and young people under the yolk of a disciplinarian regime, Ville Suhonen’s film is a grim sketch despite the cinematographic beauty each shot is imbued with: it was an era soaked in hatred where children were educated for war, against class enemies, against the other... Suhonen has already made various documentaries about Finland, war and ideology, ranging in perspective. Still, none of these were as open for allegorical readings that reached beyond the ordinary barriers of time and space. Can we avoid thinking of Ukraine or Gaza when looking into the eyes of these spiritually devastated children born almost a century ago?

– Vanja Kaludjercic