Forbidden Fruit

Colour, 35 mm
Finland, Sweden, 2009, 98 min
Section: Another View

Synopsis

Attractive Maria leaves the constricting grip of her strongly religious family and community and sets out for the big city. The clearly more timorous Raakel follows her, not in the hope of sharing her pleasures, but to ensure that her friend returns as untainted as possible. Which of the girls will be ground down more by the big world? Or will it turn out that the more destructive environment is the one in which they grew up? The film makes use of melodramatic forms to satisfy its generic requirements, as well as to intelligibly question existential issues. The fundamental source of dramatic tension stems from a conflict between two types of upbringing. Despite empty words, the religiously motivated lifestyle is portrayed as begrudging of any form of liberation. The movie does not, however, idealize a world that Western city kids consider "normal,” and it sensitively divides its attention between the allure of common enjoyments and hints of their danger. Yet it also clearly states that indulging in pleasure with no evil intent need not necessarily be a sin.

About the director

Dome Karukoski (b. 1976, Nicosia, Cyprus) graduated from Helsinki’s University of Art and Design (UIAH) and began focusing on issues facing young people in his graduation project Beauty and the Bastard (Tyttö, sinä olet tähti, 2005). This popular movie was nominated for eight Jussis, Finnish national film awards, and was screened at the Berlinale and Tribeca. His second film, The Home of Dark Butterflies (Tummien perhosten koti, 2008), was selected to represent Finland at the Academy Awards, and it brought Karukoski a Jussi for Best Director. In addition to directing features, Karukoski works in television, and enjoys playing and coaching floorball and American football. Forbidden Fruit is his third feature.