International documentary film festival
March 30 - April 6, 2025
Kaptol Boutique Cinema, Zagreb

Under Construction (Wanha Markku )

Markus Toivo

Under Construction
Markku built a house for his family with his own hands, working from morning till night so that his seven children would have a roof over their heads. Nothing was disturbing his work, not even the family living in the house. Unfortunately, the task ended up being too much and he burnt out. One day, he decided to leave his family, and disappeared abroad. Now, 30 years later, Markku lives alone in that same house. He is still trying to fulfill his promise to himself: he wants to complete the construction of the house even if his family is long gone. The filmmaker travels to his childhood home to face his father, who he never got to know properly. Together they build a steel gate in front of the unfinished house while simultaneously trying to build a relationship with each other.

Finland 2023, '61

DIRECTOR: Markus Toivo

SCENARIO: Markus Toivo

CAMERA: Joel Grandell

MONTAGE: Sofia Bonds

MUSIC: Ossi Oikari, Markus Toivo

PRODUCERS: Markus Toivo, Kalervo Aho

PRODUCTION: Jokí Production Oy; Aalto University, ELO

FESTIVALS & AWARDS:

Iran IFF Cinema Verite: Best Film (2023)
Nordisk Panorama: New Nordic Voice award (2023)
Tampere FF: Main prize; Church foundation prize; Best Cinematography (2023)
Docpoint (2023)
Locarno Critics Week (2023)
Ismailia FF (2023)
ImageIndia (2023)
Vera FF (2023)
 

Markus Toivo

Markus Toivo

Markus Toivo is a filmmaker from Finland who has studied cinema in Helsinki and Tallinn, and recently graduated from ECAM in Madrid, majoring in film direction. He works both in documentaries and fiction. In his opinion, often one inspires the other. Markus is interested in telling intimate stories that explore the struggle and coexistence of beauty and ugliness. The documentary Under Construction is Markus' first feature length film.

 

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