Archive of films Forbidden Fruit / Kielletty hedelmä

Finland / Sweden
2009, 98 min

Section: Another View
Year: 2009

Two attractive adolescent girls, Maria and Raakel, are bound by the rules of a rigid religious community. Alcohol and premarital sex are prohibited although Maria would, to say the least, like to dabble in both. Will her hunger for forbidden fruit bring disaster or liberation?

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.

Contacts

The Finnish Film Foundation
Kanavakatu 12, 2nd floor, 00160, Helsinki
Finland
Tel: +358 962 203 00
Fax: +358 962 203 050
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.ses.fi

NonStop Sales AB
Döbelnsgatan 24, SE 113 52, Stockholm
Sweden
Tel: +46 8 673 9989, +46 8 673 9980
Fax: +46 8 673 9988
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.nonstopsales.net

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About the film

Color, 35 mm

Section:	Another View

Director:	Dome Karukoski
Screenplay:	Aleksi Bardy
Dir. of Photography:	Tuomo Hutri
Music:	Adam Nordén
Editor:	Harri Ylönen
Producer:	Aleksi Bardy
Production:	Helsinki - filmi Oy
Cast:	Marjut Maristo, Amanda Pilke, Joel Mäkinen, Malla Malmivaara
Contact:	The Finnish Film Foundation, NonStop Sales AB

www:	www.nonstopsales.com/forbiddenfruit

Guests

Dome Karukoski

Film Director

Olavi Uusivirta

Actor

Miira Paasilinna

Buyer, Sales Agent

Satu Elo

Film Institution Rep.