Good Girls

Colour, 35mm
Finland, 2000, 54 min
Section: Documentary Films in Competition

Synopsis

This Finnish documentary tells the story of three women trying to gain the recognition of their relatives and others around them. It seems, though, that good intentions and diligence are never enough. As a result each of them is constantly fighting the feeling of her own inability and inadequacy. 54-year-old Pirjo, a teacher at a special school who has four kids of her own, says, “I feel guilty if I am not helping others. I ought to learn how to think of myself sometimes.” Suvi, an 18-year-old prospective school-leaver, claims, “If someone praises me, I don’t believe them.” Ritta, who is thirty-three and works at the Ministry of Education, explains, “If you work well, you should be rewarded. I often requested promotion from my superiors, but was told I am not a managerial type.” These women actively work for society and are truly indispensable at work and to their families – but immoderate goodness and effort are their particular fatal flaws. Being a ‘good girl’ involves one day answering the questions ‘who am I?’ and ‘what do I really want out of life?’

About the director

Hanna Miettinen (b. 1973, Helsinki) studied aesthetics at university in Helsinki. She shot her first works on video: 9,95 Per Minute (1995) and If You Only Knew (1996). The short film The Rose of the Railroad (1996) attracted much attention: it was awarded an Honourable Mention at the 1997 Tampere International Short Film Festival and was selected for the Cinefoundation official selection at the Cannes IFF. She also celebrated success with 100 Clocks (1998) which won the Prix Europa, Young Europe Encouragement Award, Berlin. But Good Girls (Kiltit tytöt, 2000) didn’t come up empty-handed either: it took the Special Prize in National Competition at the Tampere ISFF.