Film Screening 

Tove – A film by Zaida Bergroth

Runtime: 103 minutes

Join us for a special screening of Tove, presented in collaboration with the Embassy of Finland. Before the film screening, there will be a walkthrough of the Moomin 80: The Door is Always open exhibition.

Synopsis

Helsinki, 1945. The end of the war brings a new sense of artistic and social freedom for painter Tove Jansson. Modern art, dizzying parties, and an open relationship with a married politician mark her unconventional life, often at odds with her sculptor father’s strict ideals.

Tove’s desire for liberty is tested when she meets theatre director Vivica Bandler. Their love is electric and all-consuming, but Tove begins to realise that the freedom she yearns for requires love that is reciprocated.

As she struggles with her personal life, her creative endeavours take her in an unexpected direction. While focusing on painting, a side project rapidly gains momentum — the melancholic, haunting tales she once told children in bomb shelters evolve into the magical world of the Moomins. Infused with inspiration from her own life, the Moomins bring Tove international fame and financial freedom, with daily comic strips, stage plays, and stories that continue to enchant audiences worldwide.

Yet even as she finds her artistic identity, Tove must confront her deepest personal struggle: her unrequited love for Vivica. Only by breaking away can she find true liberty.

Tove is a captivating drama about the creative energy of an iconic talent and her turbulent search for identity, desire, and freedom.

About the Director

Zaida Bergroth is a Finnish filmmaker celebrated for her sensitive and visually rich storytelling. Her works often explore themes of personal identity, relationships, and freedom. Tove (2020), one of her most acclaimed films, has been screened internationally and praised for bringing the story of Tove Jansson to a global audience.