New Nordic Cinema at Scandinavia House returns in a virtual format!

Celebrate contemporary Nordic filmmaking with us from home by catching some of the best new films in weekend sessions of contemporary feature films and documentaries.

The fifth session of the series from March 12-18 features the film Force of Habit/ Tottumiskysymys (Finland, 2019; dir. Kirsikka Saari, Elli Toivoniemi, Anna Paavilainen, Alli Haapasalo, Reetta Aalto, Jenni Toivoniemi, Miia Tervo).

Based on six short films from Yksittäistapaus (the Force of Habit Anthology Series), which portrays women’s everyday experiences with imbalances of power, Force of Habit follows six different women who experience sexual harassment, judgement, underrating and exclusion throughout the course of one day. Hilla is on a romantic vacation; Emmi is throwing a house party; and Milja is on the bus heading to school — when each of them is approached by a stranger, things take an unexpected turn. At the same time, the young actress Emppu is conflicted as she rehearses for a career-making role that causes her discomfort; Niina, a crime victim who has waited years to see her case tried, finds herself with an inexperienced prosecutor assigned to her last-minute; and Miia, as she’s throwing a company party, sees the mood changed dramatically after her colleague Katja opens up about sexual harassment in the workplace. How will others react? And is it really possible that these things happen all around us every day?

With conviction and honesty, but also with a liberating humor, the female director-collective behind Force of Habit uncover, and encourage us to fight, the oppressive structures in our time. Written and directed by Kirsikka Saari, Elli Toivoniemi, Anna Paavilainen, Alli Haapasalo, Reetta Aalto, Jenni Toivoniemi, Miia Tervo (75 min. In Finnish and English with English subtitles).

“An electrifying reminder that sexual abuse and harassment are everyday phenomena”–AWFJ