Etna

Under the golden rays of the Sicilian sun, the burden of the past erupts like a long-dormant volcano. 94-year-old rose cultivator Sinna Perho living in Sicily waited a long time hoping that someone would want to hear her story. Correspondence with her sibling’s grandchild, the director of the documentary Sinna Virtanen, began a journey of liberation from the burden of shame and anger.

Through the correspondence of the namesakes, unfolds the traumas of Perho’s childhood of systematic sexual abuse and violence. The film explores gently and unhurriedly overcoming and letting go of trauma. It is a harmonious portrait of both Perho and Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, which becomes a symbol of suppressed emotions. Adding their own special dimension to the film are the use of puppet theater and the puppets Perho has made over the years. Perho’s puppets, seeing the light of day for the first time in this documentary, provide an opportunity to deal with painful memories through play.

Better known as a theatre director and playwright, Virtanen’s debut as a documentary filmmaker is a delicate portrait that pauses at heavy themes, with lingering shots and the softness of 16mm film creating a visually calming experience. The slowly unfolding documentary is an ode to the comforting power of nature and openness.

Sabriina Hietaniemi

Sinna Virtanen will attend the film screening on 4 Feb.