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]
Stupid Young Heart | |
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![]() Film poster | |
Directed by | Selma Vilhunen |
Written by | Kirsikka Saari |
Produced by | Venla Hellstedt Elli Toivoniemi |
Starring |
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Cinematography | Lisabi Fridell |
Edited by | Yva Fabricius Michal Leszczylowski |
Music by | Timo Naomi Dirksen |
Production companies | Tuffi Films Windmill Film Hob Windmill Film |
Distributed by | Nordisk Film |
Release dates |
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Running time | 102 minutes |
Country | Finland |
Language | Finnish |
Pregnant teen Kiira and her boyfriend Lenni struggle to make ends meet. Further complications arise when Lenni joins a group of neo-Nazis.
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]