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© 2026 The Couch Critic
Browse 94 movies from ELO Film School Finland
Nesting is a story about Veikka (20), who is about to leave his work place - a construction site owned by Kari (50) - to start a new life in the big city. Veikka thinks the goodbyes will go smoothly, but gets interrupted by a rare situation: there’s a baby in the crane. The surprising problem is an annoyance at first, but in the end it opens up communication between the employees in a way that has been difficult in the past.
Aug 2020
Two lovers living in separate countries spend their last day together, having sex and eating. A musical melodrama accompanied by Orthodox Christian choir music.
Jun 2020
A poetic horror drama about Irina, a young mother on the run from her poisonous relationship, and her grandmother who has her own wounds too.
May 2025
Arvo is lonely, and his annoying big sister Ulla is no help. Arvo decides to get himself a new friend: a parakeet.
Oct 2023
As she keeps watching old home movies isolated in her hotel room, the screen becomes a mirror from which she tries to see herself. Levels of subjectivity, narrative, and reality entwine into a surrealist fever dream of scopophilic cinéma pur. The final layer of meaning is all of us watching the film on the screen-mirror in the theatre.
Apr 2023
A couple tries to awaken their faded love by feeding it earthly possessions. But regret and paranoia arise when their tenderness transforms into mental violence towards oneself and the other.
Aug 2016
Out into the big wide world as fast as possible. That’s Elli’s plan. But where should she get the money from, if not steal it? When Heze falls for her, she steals from him and both have to learn: “Adulthood is a big pain in the arse”.
Mar 2012
Sampo introduces his girlfriend Heli for the first time to his whole family at his parent´s wedding anniversary party. As the night goes on, they learn new and unexpected traits of each other.
Sep 2020
Recast is a satirical black comedy about how one can remain true to themselves through the gauntlets of the industrial machine - or can they?
Helena is spending an evening with her family when someone knocks on the door. Unknown man confronts Helena with accusations towards her perfect family. Helena drives the man and the accusations away. But the seed of doubt has been planted.
Nov 2023
Ossi desperately wants to be accepted by the office ski fanatics to be seen as one of the guys. He grabs his skis and hits the trail. “No perkele” is a comedy short about expectations of being a man in Finland.
Sep 2021
It's almost Christmas but these three people are still on the road. The products don't sell, the car is a wreck and the weather is freezing. Moreover there is a problem: how to cope with an emerging friendship?
Sep 2010
In the aftermath of a death, a home is cleaned out; the accumulation of a life is removed in bags and recycle bins. But what becomes of the collection of books? Laura Rantanen’s resoundingly moving and wistful documentary reflects on the end of life, what lingers behind, and the moments when a book breaks through the monotony to open the world around us.
Jan 2023
The summer ahead is long and hot but the burden of shame from the past is haunting Joonas, 24, and driving him to solitude. A sudden phone call changes the direction of his summer and brings Joonas to an old manor for a summer job, forcing him to open up to his new workmates and to face his shame. Joonas works hard under the burning sun, driven by his past mistakes, whilst the others lounge under the calming shade of trees. On the last day the group loses track of time and misses the last bus home. They are left at the old manor and a magical midsummer night begins.
Mar 2021
Jakke is about to get married to a young and pregnant woman. When his friends find out, they drag him into a pub for a stag night.
Jan 2009
On a quiet night with no audience but each other, four dancers pass a slow night revealing the quiet, messy, and surprisingly tender reality of life behind the glitter.
Feb 2026
A random encounter with an old friend leads to a conversation that no one actually wanted to have.
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In this short, shown in the student category at IDFA, the compelling, dramatised story of a pedophile is told. He hasn’t opened up about his orientation to even those closest to him, nor would he ever hurt a child.
Dec 2020
Short on money, Maija turns up at her son Mikko's party uninvited. Not having seen his mother for years, Mikko is forced to welcome the new guest.
Dec 2024
Somebody Should Do Something tells a story of insecurity and longing for freedom, of fear that drives people to poor choices. The main character, Elvis, falls for the new girl in class, Onerva. Seeking acceptance from his friends, Elvis lies and tells them he’s had sex with Onerva. Due to the lies and misunderstandings, the whole town is soon at a point where somebody should do something.
Jun 2019