International Competition

This botanical documentary takes its time hopping between households of various married couples and their gardenscapes in Finland’s lush countryside. The tender appreciation of nature and relationships is made palpable with Garden Lovers’ honest portrayal of life’s stillness and the peculiarities of what it is to be human. Through idiosyncratic glimpses of their daily lives, elderly couples impart wisdom about love and remind us of life’s fickle nature, but don’t be fooled – though it moves at a gentle pace and is cut with introspective silences, film incites a chuckle here and there with unexpected moments of silliness. Set in verdant oases, Garden Lovers is a delicate display of life’s quirky musings and the significance that gardens play in the grand scheme of being.