Aurora (2019 film)
| Aurora | |
|---|---|
Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Miia Tervo |
| Written by | Miia Tervo |
| Produced by | Mahsa Malka |
| Starring |
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Production company | Dionysos Films |
Release date |
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| Country | Finland |
| Languages |
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Aurora is a 2019 Finnish romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Miia Tervo, in her feature film debut. The film follows Aurora (Mimosa Willamo), an aimless nail technician with a drinking problem living in Rovaniemi. A series of chance encounters leads her to agree to help Darian (Amir Escandari), an Iranian asylum-seeker, find a wife so he can stay in Finland with his young daughter. The film had its world premiere at the Gothenburg Film Festival on 25 January 2019. It received positive reviews from critics and won seven Jussi Awards, including Best Film.
Plot
Aurora flees the morning after a one-night stand and returns to the home of her alcoholic father Reijo. A repossessor arrives to take pictures of the place, stating they were informed about the eviction months ago. Her father is in denial; Aurora wants to take flowers to her mother's grave for her birthday. She takes him to rehabilitation for another 90-day stay. Meanwhile, Darian struggles to accommodate his young daughter Azar at a refugee facility not meant for children. A sympathetic employee, Tiina, takes them to her home, although her husband Juha objects.
Facing possible homelessness, Aurora enjoys a wild night out with her best friend and colleague Kinky. They consider possible money-making schemes — Aurora settling on giving colonics in Norway. Darian considers possible methods to get asylum; Tiina suggests he finds a spouse. When Tiina realises she has forgotten her anniversary with Juha, Darian offers to go for a walk to give them some privacy. Aurora and Darian run into each other a hot dog stand. Darian is short 50 cents, and an intoxicated Aurora spots him the cash. They get to talking; he shares he is considering killing himself to help get his daughter's residency secured.
Aurora gets a temporary job supervising the cranky elderly woman Liisa. Meanwhile, Kinky is angry to learn that Aurora drunkenly applied for a loan so they can move to Norway. Aurora sees Darian again at the hot dog stand. He offers her 3000 EUR if she will help find him a wife. She turns him down and leaves.
She runs into him again at the grocery store — this time seeing him with his daughter. The trio get a meal together; Aurora agrees to help him and gives him some unsolicited dating advice. Kinky later suggests that Aurora may be interested in Darian, which she denies. Aurora introduces Darian to Liisa, who shares she is also a refugee, from Karelia. Liisa offers up a potential wife in her lesbian friend, who faces judgement from the other old women. Everyone gets dressed up, but the woman dies on the way to the wedding. Aurora sets him up on more dates, each worse than the last. He thanks her, and the two share an awkward good-night. Juha takes Darian out winter swimming. They bond over jokes around the fire.
Aurora's father is hospitalised, and she calls Darian for emotional support. They get into bed together, kiss, and have sex. Darian and Azar celebrate Christmas with Tiina, Juha, and their children. Overwhelmed, Aurora blacks out on a night out and wakes up in the hospital, having had her stomach pumped. The hospital worker gives her a phone number for help with substance abuse but she insists she is fine and leaves. Darian is interviewed by immigration about his relationship with Aurora, where he confesses his love for her. Afterwards, he throws up and returns home to commiserate with Juha.
Aurora accepts she has a problem, entering rehab and joining a support group for alcoholics. After getting sober, she drives to reunite with Darian and Azar.
Cast
- Mimosa Willamo as Aurora: a dissatisfied nail technician
- Amir Escandari as Darian: a widowed Iranian refugee with a daughter, Azar
- Elà Yildirim as Azar: Darian's daughter
- Oona Airola as Kinky: Aurora's friend and coworker
- Miitta Sorvali as Liisa: an elderly woman from Karelia
- Ria Kataja as Tiina: worker at the refugee facility
- Chike Ohanwe as Juha: Tiina's husband
- Hannu-Pekka Björkman as Reijo: Aurora's alcoholic father
- Pamela Tola as Ulla
Production
Aurora was written and directed by Miia Tervo, in her feature film debut.[1] In an interview with Variety, Tervo said that she developed the idea for the film in university after making a documentary on substance abuse in young women. She also cited Toni Erdmann (2016) as an inspiration for Aurora.[2]
Mahsa Malka served as producer.[1] The film was shot in Rovaniemi. It was made on a budget of 1.19 million EUR.[3]
Release
It premiered as the opening of the Gothenburg Film Festival on 25 January 2019.[4] It had its American premiere at South by Southwest.[5] The film was also shown on Yle TV2 in 2021.[6]
Reception
Critical response
A YLE survey of 34 film critics and journalists listed Aurora as the second-best Finnish film of the 2010s, after The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki (2016).[7] The film received 4/5 stars from Leena Virtanen in Helsingin Sanomat.[8] It also received positive reviews from Alissa Simon in Variety and Niko Ikonen in Episodi.[9]
Mimosa Willamo's performance was acclaimed by critics.[10] Amir Escandari's acting debut also received praise from Simon and Virtanen.[11]
Accolades
Aurora won seven Jussi Awards, including Best Film.[12] It was nominated for the Nordic Council Film Prize.[13]
References
Citations
- ^ a b Kenttälä (2019).
- ^ Keslassy (2019).
- ^ Passoja (2020); Lapin Kansa (2018).
- ^ Domellöf-Wik (2019); Kenttälä (2019).
- ^ Simon (2019).
- ^ Uggeldahl (2021).
- ^ Sundqvist (2019).
- ^ Virtanen (2019).
- ^ Simon (2019); Ikonen (2019).
- ^ Simon (2019); Kaukonen (2019); Virtanen (2019).
- ^ Simon (2019); Virtanen (2019).
- ^ Sundqvist (2020).
- ^ Wenno (2019).
Sources
- Domellöf-Wik, Maria (25 January 2019). "Hennes debutfilm öppnar Filmfestivalen" [Her debut film opens the film festival]. Göteborgs-Posten (in Swedish). Retrieved 5 October 2025.
- Ikonen, Niko (24 January 2019). "Aurora". Episodi (in Finnish). Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- Kaukonen, Martta (25 January 2019). "Aurora on kotimainen leffahelmi! Raikas uutuuskomedia käsittelee rasismia räväkällä huumorilla" [Aurora is a Finnish film gem! This fresh new comedy tackles racism with bold humor]. Me Naiset (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 3 September 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- Kenttälä, Pekka (29 January 2019). "Suomalainen elokuva avasi Göteborgin elokuvafestivaalit - Sveriges Radio Finska" [Finnish film opens Gothenburg Film Festival - Sveriges Radio Finnish]. Sveriges Radio (in Finnish). Retrieved 5 October 2025.
- Keslassy, Elsa (1 February 2019). "Finnish Director Miia Tervo Brings Out Fresh New Voice With 'Aurora'". Variety. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- [Lapin Kansa] (5 November 2018). "Tältä näyttää Rovaniemellä kuvattu Aurora-elokuva: "Pyrin siihen, että pohjoinen rankka ja paikoin alhainen huumori lyövät raikkaasti kättä vilpittömän runouden kanssa"". Lapin Kansa (in Finnish). Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- Passoja, Annu (15 October 2020). "Jussi-palkittu Aurora oli myös oodi lappilaisille naisille, sanoo elokuvan käsikirjoittanut ja ohjannut Miia Tervo" [The Jussi Award-winning Aurora was also an ode to the women of Lapland, says Miia Tervo, who wrote and directed the film]. Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). Retrieved 5 October 2025.
- Simon, Alissa (10 February 2019). "Göteborg Film Review: 'Aurora'". Variety. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
- Sundqvist, Janne (20 December 2019). "Aki Kaurismäen valtakausi on ohi – Kriitikot valitsivat Hymyilevän miehen 2010-luvun parhaaksi kotimaiseksi elokuvaksi". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- Sundqvist, Janne (14 October 2020). "Aurora voitti parhaan elokuvan Jussin – Tuottaja Max Malka: "Kun erilaiset äänet pääsevät kuuluviin, ei yhtäkkiä ole enää meitä ja heitä"" [Aurora wins Best Film at the Jussi Awards – Producer Max Malka: "When different voices are heard, suddenly there is no longer 'us' and 'them'."]. Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). Retrieved 5 October 2025.
- Uggeldahl, Krister (31 March 2021). "Tv-premiär för Jussivinnaren Aurora" [TV premiere for Jussi winner Aurora]. Hufvudstadsbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 5 October 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025 – via PressReader.
- Virtanen, Leena (24 January 2019). "Elokuva-arvostelu: Tämä on suomalainen elokuvatapaus: Mimosa Willamo on hämmästyttävä ja Miitta Sorvali tekee yhden parhaista rooleistaan komediassa, jossa kaikki loksahtaa kohdalleen" [Film review: This is a Finnish film phenomenon: Mimosa Willamo is amazing and Miitta Sorvali gives one of her best performances in a comedy where everything falls into place]. Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 25 January 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
- Wenno, Nicholas (20 August 2019). "Prisad Utøya-dokumentär kan få nordiskt filmpris" [Acclaimed Utøya documentary could win Nordic film award]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). ISSN 1101-2447. Retrieved 5 October 2025.