Stupid Young Heart

Stupid Young Heart
Film poster
Directed bySelma Vilhunen
Written byKirsikka Saari
Produced byVenla Hellstedt
Elli Toivoniemi
Starring
CinematographyLisabi Fridell
Edited byYva Fabricius
Michal Leszczylowski
Music byTimo Naomi Dirksen
Production
companies
Tuffi Films
Windmill Film
Hob
Windmill Film
Distributed byNordisk Film
Release dates
  • 7 September 2018 (2018-09-07) (TIFF)
  • 12 October 2018 (2018-10-12)
Running time
102 minutes
CountryFinland
LanguageFinnish

Stupid Young Heart (Finnish: Hölmö nuori sydän) is a 2018 Finnish drama film directed by Selma Vilhunen.[1] It was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival.[2] It was selected as the Finnish entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.[3][4]

Plot

Pregnant teen Kiira and her boyfriend Lenni struggle to make ends meet. Further complications arise when Lenni joins a group of neo-Nazis.

Cast

Reception

Barry Hertz from The Globe and Mail gave the film 2.5 out of 4, stating: "With Stupid Young Heart, director Selma Vilhunen attempts to dissect the attraction a fringe group might offer for the youthful and dispossessed, and while her intentions are noble, the execution is as shaky as the current geopolitical environment."[5] Michael McNeely from "That Shelf" said: "Limited characterization and a static plot prevent the film from soaring."[6]

Michelle da Silva from the newspaper NOW Toronto liked the film giving it 4 stars out of five, describing it as "much more than a teen romance" and writing: "Vilhunen explores real hardships of the working class, and her portrayal of teens is heartbreakingly authentic. Honkonen and Ristseppä give sensitive performances that will haunt you after the final scene."[7] For The Canadian Press, David Friend said, "while 'Stupid Young Heart' ties up a complicated story too easily, it draws some light to how fringe groups find weakness and exploit it for their own agenda."[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Selma Vilhunen's 'Stupid Young Heart' Wins Finnish Film Affair Prize". Variety. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  2. ^ "TIFF Adds More High-Profile Titles, Including Jonah Hill's 'Mid90s,' 'Boy Erased,' 'Hold the Dark,' and Many More". IndieWire. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Suomen Oscar-ehdokas on Selma Vilhusen Hölmö nuori sydän". 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  4. ^ Roxborough, Scott (2 September 2019). "Oscars: Finland Selects 'Stupid Young Heart' for International Film Category". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  5. ^ Hertz, Barry. "Stupid Young Heart". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  6. ^ McNeely, Michael (9 September 2018). "TIFF 2018: Stupid Young Heart Review". That Shelf. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  7. ^ da Silva, Michelle (30 August 2018). "TIFF review: Stupid Young Heart". NOW Toronto. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  8. ^ Friend, David (18 September 2018). "Five movies you might've missed: Smaller standout Toronto film festival picks". CTV/The Canadian Press. Retrieved 7 August 2019.