| Tove | |
| Director: | Zaida Bergroth |
| Producer: | Aleksi Bardy Andrea Reuter |
| Screenplay: | Eeva Putro |
| Story: | Eeva Putro Jarno Elonen |
| Starring: | Alma Pöysti Krista Kosonen Shanti Roney Joanna Haartti |
| Music: | Matti Bye |
| Cinematography: | Linda Wassberg |
| Editing: | Samu Heikkilä |
| Runtime: | 103 minutes |
| Budget: | €3.4 million |
Tove in Swedish pronounced as /ˈtuːve/ is a 2020 Finnish biographical film about Swedish-speaking Finnish author and illustrator Tove Jansson, creator of the Moomins. The film was directed by Zaida Bergroth from a script by Eeva Putro, and stars Alma Pöysti in the title role.[1] [2]
The film's budget, at €3.4 million, made it the second most expensive Finnish film, following the 2017 version of The Unknown Soldier.[3] Tove was released to critical acclaim, and was selected as the Finnish entry for the Best International Feature Film award at the 93rd Academy Awards, but was not nominated.[4] [5]
The film follows the early life of Tove Jansson from the end of World War II to the mid-1950s, showing her romantic relationships with the politician Atos Wirtanen and the theatre director Vivica Bandler, as well as the creation and publication of the Moomins.[6] [7]
Tove screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2020. The film was released in Finland on 2 October 2020.[10]
Tove was positively received by critics, with Pöysti's performance in the title role garnering critical acclaim. Variety described Pöysti's performance as "mesmerizing", stating she "excels in her first leading film role and strongly resembles the real Tove". They were also positive about Bergroth's direction, commenting that she "flexes her considerable cinematic powers, conjuring vibrantly expressive visuals and confident performances from her talented cast."[11]
Tove won seven Jussi Awards, including Best Film and Best Actress for Pöysti.[12] This was the most awards won by a Swedish-language Finnish film.[13]