How To Pick Berries

Synopsis

Visitors from a distant place appear in the misty swamps of Northern Finland. The locals grow restless - things are changing, secret berry spots are revealed and everything is getting uncomfortable. Who is to blame and who is profiting from all this? HOW TO PICK BERRIES is an exploration of the Finnish mind and the absurdities of the global economy.

Director's comment

Elina Talvensaari began her studies with anthropology and sociology at Helsinki University. While finishing her Master’s Degree, she switched to film studies, majoring in documentary directing. HOW TO PICK BERRIES is her graduation film for a Bachelor’s degree at Aalto University, Helsinki.

How long did it take to make your short? Was it difficult to get financing?
After the period of writing it silently in my head, which doesn’t count, it took about ten months to finish the film. The shooting took about ten days, spread over three months, and the rest was editing and sound design etc. Financing came from ELO Film School, it is part of the studies.

Which thoughts come to mind concerning a “European cinema community”?
It brings to my mind the rich and heterogeneous history of European cinema. There’s Bergman, Pasolini, Chris Marker and all those great filmmakers. That’s the ground on which the living part of the community grows. Hopefully it will get even more alive!

If you owned a theatre for one night, which films would you screen?
It would be a long night! THE MIRROR by Jafar Panahi, SOMEWHERE by Sofia Coppola, THE BEACHES OF AGNES by Agnés Varda, MY WINNIPEG by Guy Maddin and to stop all the happiness BLOOD OF THE BEAST by Georges Franju. Oh, and WUTHERING HEIGHTS by Andrea Arnold! And LESSONS OF DARKNESS by Herzog.

What is your next project?
Before I always said it was about love and economy, but it really doesn’t have much to do with love. I won’t say too much but, the working title is WOMEN ON BRIDGE. It’s a reflection about intimacy. I guess.

Film Info