Exclusive Haugesund: The young Finnish actress has one of the starring roles in Ulla Heikkilä’s first feature Eden, to be pitched as work in progress at New Nordic Films.

The coming of age feature Eden written by Heikkilä, is set in a confirmation camp and told through the eyes of four characters.

Aliisa (15) is a confident non-believer. Her critical attitude towards Christianity is shaken when she meets charming Ilmari and discovers that he has religious tendencies. Jenna, is a queen-bee who is certain that the camp will become her kingdom. Panu (15) is shy and introverted, but during the camp he learns that he's worthy of love. The experience of these teenagers is affected by Tiina, a 25-year-old priest who wants to revamp the camp towards religious ecstasy.

In her director’s notes, Heikkilä explains that going on a confirmation camp is “extremely popular” in Finland. “Coming from a seemingly secular Nordic country, I find it fascinating how much Christianity still affects our lives, at least below the surface, ‘continues the 30-year-old director.

“Eden doesn't make definitive statements about religion. For the characters, the camp is a lesson to sociality: To lead or to follow? To conform, or to position oneself as an outsider? The characters' individual voices and stories develop into a symphony; the main melody is the camp's collective experience.”

Linnea Skog who had her breakthrough in Selma Vilhunen’s Little Wing, for which she won a Jussi-Best Actress award in 2016, plays one of the main young characters, together with Aamu Milonoff (Stupid Young Heart), Amos Brotherus (Dogs Don’t Wear Pants) and newcomer Bruno Bear. The two priests in the camp are played by Tommi Korpela (Deadwind, Bullets) and Satu Tuuli Karhu (Happier Times, Grump). The film is lensed by Pietari Peltola (Dogs Don’t Wear Pants).

Eden is experienced producer Miia Haavisto’s first feature film for her new Helsinki-based company Tekele Productions. “I feel privileged to be able to work with new talent like Ulla and to allow for fresh voices to be heard in Scandinavian film,” said the producer, behind award-winning mainstream films such as Tom of Finland and The Unknown Soldier. The film is co-financed by Yle, Nordisk Film (which will handled the domestic release), with support from the Finnish Film Foundation. The theatrical premiere is set for summer 2020.