Seen at...
Tove
- Director: Zaida Bergroth
- Writer: Eeva Putro; Jarno Elonen
- Producer: Aleksi Bardy; Andrea Reuter
CGiii Comment
Who would have 'thunk' it!?! Tove Jansson - the celebrated children's author - was a bit of a wild one! She liked the booze, she liked the ladies [and the men] and smoked like an industrial chimney.
Oooh sweet Bohemia, where marriage is just a mere convenience and - so it would seem - a hall pass to unbridled bed-hopping...where else would a struggling artist live? Bloomsbury perhaps!?!
Poor loves...so many struggles the artist has to face...whether it be finances, inspiration...or even their success...or, lack of it. Tove struggled in all these aspects, not quite content with her own success, never content with her art [or, more so, with its lacklustre reception]...and, although merely hinted at, discontented with [and compromised in] love. She was a true malcontent who ended up - in her eyes - with all the second bests!
Decadent in both production design and flavour...Tove is a rich tapestry of a life that had more intricacy than what appears...saying that is in no way a detriment to the film. Artists show what they want...through their work...like this film does.
Tove gave the world the Moomins...her tragedy is...she wanted to give so much more. Tove is a completely satisfying and lush film...about an unsatisfied success story.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
The bohemian life of artist and writer Tove Jansson is wondrously brought to life in this timely and moving biopic. Exploring her early years as a struggling artist in Helsinki, shunned by the artistic establishment, Tove parties hard with the intelligentsia and fails to live up to the high artistic expectations of her sculptor father. At her first solo exhibition she meets the married theatre director Vivica Bandler, their attraction to each other obvious. A passionate love affair ensues, which nourishes Tove’s creativity and soon her most famous creation takes the world by storm. This is a beautiful celebration of the life and work of a remarkable woman and will make you want to take a stroll through Moominvalley as soon as it’s over.
Emma Smart, Programmer
Cast & Characters
Alma Pöysti as Tove Jansson
Krista Kosonen as Vivica Bandler
Shanti Roney as Atos Wirtanen
Joanna Haartti as Tuulikki Pietilä
Kajsa Ernst as Signe 'Ham' Jansson
Robert Enckell as Viktor 'Faffan' Jansson
Jakob Öhrman as Sam Vanni
Eeva Putro as Maya Vanni / London
Wilhelm Enckell as Lars 'Lasse' Jansson
Liisi Tandefelt as Landlord
Emma Klingenberg as Maj-Lis
Juhana Ryynänen as Bruno Frank
Henrik Wolff as Chairman
Dick Idman as Erik von Frenckell
Simon Häger as Kurt Bandler