DOK Leipzig 2024: Once Upon a Time in a Forest (dir. Virpi Suutari) | Review
Virpi Suutari’s Once upon a Time in a Forest is both a call to action and a thoughtful reflection on the fragile relationship between humans and nature.
How would you feel if your home—the place where you grew up and hold dear—began to disappear? This is precisely the experience of the characters in Virpi Suutari’s documentary Once upon a Time in a Forest (Havumetsän lapset). The forest has a meaning that goes beyond a mere collection of trees, it is the soul of their native land, a symbol of connection to the land, emotion, and life. But how can such a soul be safeguarded when it is being dismantled in the name of profit? But how can this soul be protected when it is destroyed in the name of profit? Suutari, a successful Finnish filmmaker, shows a world in which the fight for nature becomes a deeply personal act, dictated by love and concern for its future.
The film follows five young activists—Ida, Minka, Otto, Ville, and Otso—who courageously stand up to a system that prioritizes economic gain over environmental preservation. They protest against deforestation, block logging trucks and try to convey their ideas to the authorities. The young activist are also ordinary individuals. They walk forest trails, swim in pristine lakes, and savor the fleeting joys of summer. This contradiction makes the movie incredibly lively and emotional. Their struggle resonates with anyone who has ever contemplated the fragility of our planet’s future.
Suutari’s cinematography feels almost symbiotic with the forest. Her movements are as soft as the wind among the trees, she captures the smallest details of nature – the glitter of dewdrops, the fluttering of leaves, the play of light. The forest is shown here as a living being that breathes, feels and suffers. The musical accompaniment reinforces this effect: a subtle, sensual melody echoes the natural sounds of nature, or is replaced by silence, allowing the viewer to feel the depth of what is happening in the midst of nature.
The film’s gentle summer imagery contrasts starkly with the tension of protests and confrontations. Young characters who openly express their emotions are contrasted with adults who often take a reserved and rational stance. Gradually, the viewer finds himself or herself at the center of a generational conflict between the younger and older generation. A question that haunts the audience throughout the film: What is the future of our forests if some see them as a source of life and others as a source of income?
Despite its poignant emotional undertones, the film remains sharply critical, probing difficult truths about what society is willing to sacrifice for economic progress. It raises poignant questions about what we are willing to sacrifice for economic growth. Can young people resist a powerful system that treats nature as a resource..?
In summary, Once upon a Time in a Forest is both a call to action and a thoughtful reflection on the fragile relationship between humans and nature. The film won the Golden Dove in the Audience Award category at DOK Leipzig, where it had its German premiere.
We attended the 67th edition of DOK Leipzig in person, from October 28th to November 3rd, 2024.
