L'étincelle

(2023) Light Light Light/ Valoa valoa valoa (In Finnish with English subtitles) DRAMA

Adapted from the novel by Vilja-Tuulia Huotarinen that has teenager, Mariia Ovaskainen doing teenage things, until a new student, Miranda (Anni Iikkanen) except that she prefers to be called Mimi. One day, upon Mariia biking herself home she stumbles onto Mimi dropping something onto the ground. As it turns out it's a cap from a syringe and Mimi got in trouble for that, and in a response, she then calls Mariia for snitching on her. This was the start of their friendship as Mimi brings Mariia into her bedroom, and it was at this point we see the difference between the two of them. Mariia is coming from a stable home with two parents who love her while Mimi's home is broken to which the only members she has the most bond with is her granny. And at the same time has a disconnection with her aunt and her two uncles she names them by their ages. We never see Mimi invited to Mariia's house, and it is probably because the parents do not approve of her living relatives and lifestyle.

Although, I had seen this type of theme and set up before, I had never seen it using Finland customs with the Chernobyl used as a backdrop to shape the two teenagers relationship.