Mikko Makela, 2017, Finland/UK, 108 min

“It’s about a guy who is spending his nights with another guy and making love with him, and even if he thinks it might not be good for him – he still does it, because he loves it.” So says Leevi about a book he is writing. Leevi (Janne Puustinen), a Finnish man living in Paris begrudgingly comes home to Finland to help his estranged father renovate a summer home. There, he meets Tareq (Boodi Kabbani), a Syrian immigrant hired by his father to help with the work. Their connection happens easily and quickly and, as luck would have it, the father leaves, giving the men time to spend time together. Leevi and Tareq share a gentle, yet powerful connection; a connection that fills them as they work side by side, as they make love, and as they share the stories of their lives. That tenderness interplays with the passion that boils over between them, almost allowing them to forget that their lives are so radically different. Tareq finally feels free in Finland, while Leevi feels trapped and longs for Paris. Writer/Director, Mikko Makela masterfully weaves a sexy, romantic love story with the harshness of choices made in the search for freedom. (SH)

In Finnish & English with English subtitles.

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