Tove

Tove

Finland’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards, Tove is a luminous and intimate portrait of artist and writer Tove Jansson—the beloved creator of the Moomins—whose life was as bold, expressive, and unconventional as her art. Directed by Zaida Bergroth, the film traces Jansson’s emergence as one of Finland’s most celebrated cultural figures, exploring the intersection of creativity, freedom, and love in postwar Helsinki.

Set in the vibrant aftermath of World War II, the story follows Tove (Alma Pöysti) as she struggles to define herself beyond the expectations of her sculptor father and the constraints of a conservative society. Torn between her passion for theater director Vivica Bandler (Krista Kosonen) and her relationship with political intellectual Atos Wirtanen (Shanti Roney), Tove finds her artistic voice through the whimsical, philosophical world of the Moomins—a creation that would bring her international fame but also personal conflict.

Bergroth’s direction is elegant and emotionally grounded, capturing both the exuberance of creative discovery and the loneliness of living authentically. Pöysti’s nuanced performance illuminates Jansson’s restless spirit and her yearning for both connection and independence.

Visually rich and quietly rebellious, Tove celebrates the courage it takes to live and love on one’s own terms. It is a portrait not just of an artist, but of a woman who refused to choose between passion and purpose—and in doing so, created a universe that continues to inspire generations.

Screening With:

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5 mins 57s
Canada, 2021
Dir. Simon Gionet
Language: English

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