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Family Files

Documentary, 2002, 78 min.

The tragic suicide of her second cousin Pekka urges director Mari Soppola to return to the village of Ruopsa in Lapland after many years, where her family leads a secluded life. She seizes the opportunity to search for her roots. Basing herself on letters, photographs, home movies and conversations with relatives and acquaintances, she reconstructs a history spanning four generations. It starts with her great-grandfather Oskari Soppola (1888-1963), who settles in Ruopsa. He builds the house 'Heimola', where nearly all of his descendants grow up. While reconstructing her grandmother Helvi's life, the director discovers the first indications of a tragic pattern that seems to repeat itself in each generation. Familie Files was initially set up as a CD-ROM. The film contains a.o. beautiful split-screen images of the imposing Finnish landscape.

won prizes

  • FI - Tampere Film Festival
  • SE - Malmö Nordisk Panorama Film Festival Prize

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