Screaming Fox Productions, Nordisk Film Sweden Ally With Tekele Productions on ‘Máttáráhká' by Sámi director Suvi West: ‘Intersectional Version of ‘Barbie' (EXCLUSIVE)
Sara Beate Eira (Screaming Fox Productions) and Eva Åkergren (Nordisk Film Sweden) have boarded Finnish project 'Máttáráhká,' aka 'When Johan Johanaš Disappeared to the Mountains.'
Directed by Suvi West, and Anssi Kömi, it's produced by Julia Elomäki for Tekele Productions. Cinematographer Kerttu Hakkarainen, behind 'Heartbeast' and 'Natatorium,' will lens the film.
More from Variety
LevelK Boards Göteborg Couch Surfing Drama 'Live a Little' From 'Force Majeure' Producer Marie Kjellson: 'It's About Setting Boundaries' (EXCLUSIVE)
'The Girl With the Needle' Stars Trine Dyrholm and Vic Carmen Sonne Ready for Oscar Campaign in the Trump Era, Talk Abortion Rights: 'Every Woman Should Be Able to Choose'
Thomas Vinterberg, Goteborg's Artistic Director Pia Lundberg Address Controversial Remarks of Swedish Minister of Culture: 'Fight Back'
In 'Máttáráhká' – presented at Goteborg's Nordic Film Market's Discovery Co-production Platform – Máret, who's a filmmaker, lives in a beautiful place where predators are always present. Disillusioned by her culture's chauvinism and indifference, her life changes thanks to a passionate relationship with Johan Johanaš, allowing her to confront sexual traumas and find her own path.
'For me, it's actually a comedy. But maybe it's just my dark and surrealistic mind. It's definitely an empowering project. I call it an intersectional version of 'Barbie,'' Suvi West told Variety.
'It's dark and grotesque, but there's also magical realism. There is threat of sexual violence, but I wouldn't call it a violent film. It's not attached to realism in that sense.'
Instead of setting her story in a specific period, the Sámi director and screenwriter wanted to make it 'timeless.'
'There are elements from the 16th century to modern days and it's not the kind of place that actually exists. In Sámi way of thinking, time is not linear. It's a circle and everything is connected. Which means I carry my future and my past with me all the time.'
In 'Máttáráhká,' women are told they have a certain role in society.
'You take care of everybody and everything. It looks like a matriarchal system, but not when it comes to the ownership of your own body. Máret struggles with these values, she's also being blamed for men's actions. She wants to leave.'
Luckily, she has someone special to look up to: Julia Roberts in 'Pretty Woman.'
'She wants to be her; she wants to go to Europe and become a TV star. She's trying to get away from her traditional society, even though her mission there isn't complete. When she meets this man, her spiritual powers grow. When she finally goes to Europe, she finds out that the woman's position is not better there either. She needs to come back and fix her society with her powers: one of them is the power of storytelling.'
West has become known for her politically charged documentaries, 'Eatnameamet – Our Silent Struggle' and 'Homecoming.' But telling a fictional story doesn't feel like a detour – quite the opposite.
'It feels like going back to my roots. I started out exploring humorous stories about sexuality and womanhood. Then I moved away from Sápmi land and felt I needed to do my part. As a filmmaker, I've joined the battle of decolonization. I wanted to help my society and now, I can take a break. I've moved back home and I remembered who I was when I was 16 years old. I needed to confront that 'old me' again.'
West is also working on a novel, out in May.
'It also depicts a surrealistic world. Of course, a film about women's empowerment is also political. But this time, I'm not doing it for the world. I'm doing it for myself.'
'Suvi is a visionary filmmaker. As I read the first draft of the script a few years back, I was overwhelmed. It was such an exceptional reading experience,' said producer Julia Elomäki.
'How could anyone write about finding your own path, love, sexuality, traumas and taboos so eloquently in the form of a feature film script? I am so happy to work together with Eva Åkergren and Sara Beate Eira, and make this a co-production between Sweden, Norway and Sápmi. I feel that now, in times like these, our surrealistic story filled with dark comedy is a perfect hideaway.'
Elomäki and Marja Pihlaja have now become owners of Helsinki-based Tekele Productions, a change Elomäki described as 'meaningful both professionally and personally.' The founder, producer Miia Haavisto, continues as a partner and CEO of the company.
'Máttáráhká' will be Tekele Productions' sixth feature, following the likes of 'Eden,' 'Bad Women' and 'Butterflies,' with 'Summer is Crazy' by Ulla Heikkilä currently in post-production.
Best of Variety
New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
What's Coming to Netflix in February 2025
What's Coming to Disney+ in February 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Panthers Issue Statement After NHL's Major Announcement
Panthers Issue Statement After NHL's Major Announcement originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Florida Panthers are gearing up for their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final, set to begin Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers. Advertisement This marks the second consecutive season in which the Panthers and the Oilers will face off in the Final, with Florida winning last year's series in seven games. Meanwhile, on Monday, the NHL announced Panthers star forward Aleksander Barkov had won not only his third Frank J. Selke Trophy, given "to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game," but also his first King Clancy Memorial Trophy, given "to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community." "That's two more trophies to add to Aleksander Barkov's illustrious resume!" the NHL wrote. Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16).© Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Immediately following the announcement, the Panthers issued a statement. Advertisement "Congrats, Cap!" they posted. Barkov was presented with both trophies in a heartwarming moment at the Panthers' practice facility. The team was scheduled to have a meeting when kids from Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital entered the room to share the news. The 6-foot-2 Finnish center has been a regular visitor to the hospital throughout his career, bringing joy and putting smiles on the children's faces. Barkov previously won the Selke in the 2020–21 and 2023–24 seasons. He is now one of six players all-time to win the award three times. The other five are Pavel Datsyuk, Jere Lehtinen, Guy Carbonneau, Bob Gainey, and Patrice Bergeron. Advertisement Barkov was drafted No. 2 overall by the Panthers in the 2013 NHL Draft and has spent his entire 12-year career in Sunrise. This season, he appeared in 67 games, recording 20 goals, 51 assists and 71 points. Related: Wayne Gretzky Predicts 2025 Stanley Cup Final Matchup Related: Matthew Tkachuk Reveals First Text to Brad Marchand After Panthers-Bruins Trade This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Bay Area fans flock to see Esa-Pekka Salonen before final S.F. performances
Esa-Pekka Salonen 's final month as music director of the San Francisco Symphony has begun, and the lines at the Davies Symphony Hall box office are just one sign of how much Bay Area audiences are going to miss him. At the front of it for the Symphony's matinee of the last of three performances with violinist Hillary Hahn on Sunday, June 1,were patrons and old Symphony supporters Devorra Depper and Ophelia Salazar. The two San Franciscans arrived an hour and a half before showtime looking for an upgrade in order to get as close as possible to the conductor. 'I wanted to see him again as many times as I can before he left,' said Depper, who has been a Symphony patron for 40 years. She added she plans to see Salonen conduct three more times before his final performance on June 14. 'Each music director brings a different quality and I don't want to rank them but I just think he is superb,' she went on. 'He has a fabulous relationship with the orchestra and it makes for a marvelous listening experience.' In March 2024, the Finnish conductor announced he was severing ties with the orchestra after just five years — one of those years lost to the COVID-19 lockdown — citing differences with the Symphony's Board of Governors. Since then, the institution's financial challenges have been made public, with musicians frustrated to the point of protest because they've been performing without a contract. (As of a joint statement issued by the administration and the union on May 14, they expressed 'an ongoing commitment to the bargaining process.') While Salonen is not in the musicians' union, he has made statements in the past that are sympathetic to their cause. Those sentiments were echoed by many attendees at Sunday's show. 'It should be the musicians making the decisions, not the board,' said Salazar, who has been a Symphony subscriber for 31 years. 'It is the relationship between the conductor and the orchestra that matters. If that is not there, you have nothing.' Still, no matter what's been happening backstage, the audience didn't get that sense once Salonen came bouncing out the stage door to a warm ovation on Sunday before a mostly sold out auditorium of more than 2,500. By intermission, Salonen had been called out from the wings twice by audience ovations, with some standing. 'He's a great conductor who brings out the best in the orchestra,' Jonathan Kaner of Berkeley reflected. 'He chooses a smart program and is engaging and fun.' Now there are only six concerts left, plus an open rehearsal, before the Salonen era comes to a close. '(I'm) really sorry to see Salonen go,' Kaner said, 'really sorry.'
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Yahoo
Diesel Unveils Pride Collection with Tom of Finland Foundation
Diesel and the Tom of Finland Foundation have collaborated on a Pride collection for the fourth consecutive year. The 2025 capsule collection focuses on the work of Tom of Finland, the pseudonym of Touko Valio Laaksonen, the Finnish master of homoerotic art. More from Sourcing Journal Ksubi Debuts Cap Collection with New Era EXCLUSIVE: Feben's Mini Twist Finds Pulp Friction With OnceMore Levi's Showcases Historic Queer Symbols in New Pride Collection Illustrations of cruising scenes, including sailors, cops, construction workers and leather bars, are applied as prints to a series of T-shirts, underwear, jockstraps and a phone case. Additionally, hoodies, T-shirts, sweatpants, a tank, and a shirt and short set feature prints of photographs capturing joyful moments from Tom of Finland Foundation parties and fundraising events between 1990 and 2005. Photographer Bruce LaBruce shot the collection's campaign featuring a series of portraits featuring models cast on Grindr in a simple home setting. The Tom of Finland Foundation works to protect, preserve, document and educate the public about his work and other erotic artists. One of the primary goals is to ensure the art receives academic attention. Diesel's partnership with the foundation began in 2022 when it funded 'AllTogether,' a two-installment homoerotic art exhibition in Paris showcasing work dating back to the 1940s and launched an accompanying collection featuring work by the exhibiting artists. More collections and events in Berlin, New York, Tokyo have followed. 'Each capsule has reflected important voices from the foundation's four decades of preserving the work of queer artists, many of whom have faced discrimination and misrepresentation due to the nature of what they create,' Diesel stated. Through their ongoing Pride partnership, Diesel said it 'acknowledges the profound social and cultural impact Tom's Foundation has made, in providing an open, unique space of freedom and love for this community of artists.'
