232. Tove; movie review

 

 

TOVE

Cert 12A

103 mins

BBFC advice: Contains moderate sex, nudity

Who knew that the creator of those lovable Moomins was a hedonist?

Well, the impression much of the world will have of a gentle older lady is blown apart by this intriguing biopic by Zaida Bergroth.

The movie concentrates on Tove Jansson's poverty-stricken life before the Moomins became a worldwide phenomenon.

It shows her as sexually liberated and constantly at odds with her father who considered himself a more serious artist.

The excellent Alma Pöysti plays Tove as a woman who is trying to find her way as a painter and creates the Moomins as doodles when she is daydreaming.

Her initial relationships are with men and she throws herself at a dashing politician (Shanti Roney) who tells her that he has an open marriage.

While he falls for her, she follows his 'seize the day' mantra at a series of parties, experiencing her first sexual encounter with another woman in the shape of the married but alluring Vivica (Krista Kosonen).

This is where the sparks really begin to fly with Jansson receiving some of her own medicine as she becomes obsessed and frustrated by the theatre director.

Meanwhile, she pursues her art and, in particular, the Moomins.

Tove is a beautifully handled picture with sublime acting, especially by Pöysti and Kosonen. It captures the spirit of the carefree 50s but also prods at the tumult of Jansson's life before her great successes in love and work.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it and it gave me a thirst for more Finnish cinema.

Reasons to watch: Intoxicating story behind the creator of The Moomins

Reasons to avoid: Probably overdoes the hedonism

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: Yes

Overall rating: 8/10

Did you know? The Moomin books have been translated into more than forty different languages, and the stories have been told in many different forms. As well as an opera and several plays, the Moomin tales have been dramatised in international television and film productions.

The final word. Alma Pöysti: "We can never please all the people who have Tove in their hearts and would never accept any kind of wrong interpretation, but we needed to find that allowance to be free. "

 

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