STORMSKERRY MAJA

Finland, 2024, 169 minutes, Colour.

Amanda Jansson, Linus Troedsson.

Directed by Tiina Lymi.

Stormskerry Maja is based on a series of Finnish books, focusing on life in Finland in the middle of the 19^th century. For audiences unfamiliar with the Scandinavian way of life, this is an interesting and moving invitation to appreciate this world.

The running time of the film is quite lengthy, based on a series of books, the kind of material that could be portrayed in a miniseries.

The audience is taken to a remote village, and extended family, their way of life, religious beliefs, a strong emphasis on local traditions and superstitions, especially about the city, but also the question believes, language and practice.

The focus of the film is on a younger daughter, at first seeming rather a simple soul, playful with her older sister, devout, religiously superstitious, obedient to family in the style of the times. When a young man arrives and his father proposes a marriage, this automatically follows.

But, as the title indicates, Maja is at the centre of this lengthy story which takes place over several decades. Amanda Jansson grows on the audience, as she grows in age and maturity over the times. Visually, she seems ageless, a consistency throughout her long life – glimpsed only at the end as aged.

The audience wonders how she will deal with marriage, isolated and simple as she is, but, her husband, Janne, is a kind and considerate man and the union blossoms into an absolute love and devotion, one of the most persuasive portrayals of consistent and long love in the film.

The film shows their way of life, Maja’s pregnancy, the joy of the birth of their daughter, later several children, bringing up the children, the older girl learning to read and write, the fishing, the ambitions to build a better boat, a simple life and simple love.

There is a dramatic interruption with the outbreak of the Crimean War and British warships and sailors stationed on the island, Janne having to escape the conscription. Which means that there is a variation in the sequences, Maja and the children coping with the occupation, the language barriers, the threats from some of the soldiers to kill the cow for food, but his rebuffed by the authorities and flogged. And, there is set scenes when the sailors returned from battle, many dead, and Maja attending to the wounded.

As the film nears its final part, there is both joy and, as we might have expected, sadness. But, from it all, Maja emerges as a very strong woman, able to take responsibility, rejecting the offers of support from the family, staying, bringing up her children, a portrait strong woman.

1. The title, the island off the coast of Finland, the focus on Maja and her being grounded on the island?
2. A Finnish story, the 19^th century, the remote communities, the way of life, the land, the sea, fishing, isolated, religious, superstitious, the importance of family? The musical score?
3. The landscapes and the seascapes, the mainland and the village, homes, buildings, churches, the way of life, the work, join celebrations? The island, remote, the coast, the rocks, the hunt, the boats, the fishing?
4. The focus on the family, the numbers, the several generations, father and mother, the two sisters, life together, personalities, interactions?
5. The Christian traditions and prayers, church? Yet the mythologies of the Sea, the gods and powers, beliefs, prayer?
6. The focus on Maja, age, her sister, her eccentricities, the superstitions, the sea? The guest arriving, his son Janne, the arrangement, the marriage, Maja and her lack of preparation, the ceremony, Janne and his personality, his consideration, gentle manner, the aftermath of the wedding, the wedding night, Maja and her reticence, Janne and his consideration, the beginning of the marriage, the beginning of love, the deepening, the couple and their commitment to each other?
7. Going to the island, setting up there, the heart, Maja pregnant, the fishing, the hard work, their way of life, the joy together, leaping naked into the water, comfortable with each other, love and affection? The birth of the baby, the joy? The birth of the other children?
8. Time passing, the growing family, managing their survival, the fish, hoping for merchandise and trade?
9. The Crimean War, the arrival of the English, the ships, the sailors, setting up on the island, the threat to Janne, Maja, rowing him to his escape? The family missing him, the older daughter and her responsibilities, the boys, the baby?
10. The personalities of the British, the commanders, the men, the ships, complaints, the issue of the car, the family depending on it, the milk, the sailors demanding that it be slaughtered for food? The rabble rouser, his advances on Maja? The discipline by the commander, the flogging? The time passing, the family surviving, communications, language barriers? The involvement in the war, the battles, the sailors coming back to the island, the wounded, the daughter and her grief for their destruction, her mother reprimanding her, the shock of the wounds of the sailors, Maja and the wounded sailor, brandishing the weapon, her controlling him, summoning his wound, his gratitude? Their finally leaving?
11. The joy of Janne’s return, family life, the work, the fishing, the new baby? The plan for the merchandise, Janne getting ready, leaving, the son, August, going with him? Time passing, Maja and her pregnancy, with the children, the work, the plans for the boat, wanting the oldest child to be literate?
12. The sadness of Janne’s death, August returning? The family and their concern, her father, the visits, her sister and the harsh interactions, eventually becoming playful?
13. Maja, becoming more decisive, taking on responsibilities, doing the work, the boat, with her children, her roots on the island, not believing?
14. The final image, Maja aged, moving out, the children, her accomplishment – and seeing the images of Janne and August? The completion of a happy and worthwhile life, a simple girl, becoming a responsible woman, and assertive and capable woman?