Direction: Alli Haapasalo
Country: Finland
Directing from an estimable script by Ilona Ahti and Daniela Hakulinen, Finnish director Alli Haapasalo (his feature debut Love & Fury was a screen adaptation of Anja Snellman's novel Autumn Prince) tells the story of three young women in search of love, acceptance, and the knowledge of pleasure. The result is interesting, if not really exciting; realistic but with a shallow depth of field.
Mimmi (Aamu Milonoff) and Rönkkö (Eleonoora Kauhanen) are best friends seeking new experiences and a more active life beyond the smoothie kiosk where they work. The former starts a queer relationship with Emma (Linnea Leino), a dedicated ice skater with practically no social life; the latter, troubled by the early insecurities and discomforts related to sex, tries several boys with more disappointment than excitement.
Although it was Milonoff who got the award for outstanding performance in an international narrative feature at the L.A. Outfest, the debutant Kauhanen was the most compelling of the three actors, playing her role with a charming awkwardness and a certain candor.
One can easily connect with the young women’s personal conflicts thanks to the sensitivity of the acting and a concern for realism in the direction. Even pedestrian in places and smeared with a jumble soundtrack, Girl Picture is an observant coming-of-age picture with real substance.
