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)