Between 1968–73, Ålandic writer Anni Blomqvist published five novels that together chronicle the life of Stormskerry Maja. A simple peasant woman whose days are long and full of hard work, Stormskerry Maja believes in God in an unassuming, humble way, and as years pass, finds herself with a small amount of independence.
The books were instantly popular in Finland and remain so today. Tiina Lymi’s congenial adaptation makes it clear why Maja remains so appealing: because she grew through her suffering, not because of it. She learns and is willing and able to share her new understanding with her husband Janne. Her journey of emancipation is about equality, they both work equally hard to eke out an existence on the barren island of Stormskerry.
The greatness of Tiina Lymi’s adaptation lies in her artistic discretion, Stormskerry Maja is a visual feast and yet feels gracefully unadorned. It’s carried by the rhythm of the days, it’s anchored in the colour palette of the natural surroundings; it understands that the story’s heart, the values of kindness and perseverance, is best understood without anything superficial in the audience’s way. Lymi’s is the art of lucidity.
– Olaf Möller
Trailer
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Film details
- Country of production
- Finland
- Year
- 2024
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2024
- Length
- 163"
- Medium/Format
- DCP
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