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This is an animated film depicting the birth story of world and Väinämöinen. The story based from Finnish national epic Kalavela.

Ilmatar floats in the air until she feels her life is empty. She descends into the sea and becomes pregnant by Ahti, the God of the sea. The pregnancy progresses and a bluebill lands on Ilmattare's knee, making a nest in it. The heat of the nest burns Ilmatter's knee and it drops into the water and the egg breaks. Inside the egg, the moon, the sun and the stars grow. Ilmatar touches the water with her finger and a continent is born -This is how the Kalevala explains how the world came into being.

The fetus is impatient and bursts out of the womb, cuts its umbilical cord and goes to greet its mother, but the storm takes the child away. Before that, the child will be named Väinämöinen.

Väinämöinen gets lost on the beach, misses his mother and builds a kantele. He has a nightmare about his mother. Finally, the boy grows up with the poem.

  • Markku Tapio Siermala
    Director
  • Markku Tapio Siermala
    Producer
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Äiti
  • Project Type:
    Animation
  • Genres:
    Finnish mythology, fiction
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    March 30, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Finland
  • Country of Filming:
    Finland
  • Language:
    Finnish
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Markku Tapio Siermala

I born 1968 and lived my chilhood in Kalajoki, Finland. Graduated from computer science, University of Tampere Finland.

I like to plan and implement mystical worlds and historical events and build stories around them. 3D and animation is a natural way to realize events if video material or photos are not available.

Music creation is one of my favorite areas in filmmaking. It can have a strong influence on the character of the story. I typically use a lot of strings and orchestral ensembles.

Although I like to work in a team, I have ended up doing these jobs often alone. This is hard work, but at the same time all artistic expression comes from me and at the same time avoids artistic contradictions.

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Director Statement

Finland's national epic Kalevala is an interesting ensemble about a strange world where strange forces rule over the living. The world of Kalvela is full of different creatures with interesting powers. There are different tensions between the characters, from huge hatred to great love. I find the world very dark and emotional. It was good to use these qualities to create this first part of the Kalevala story.

Väinämöinen is the central character of the stories, so it is his birth that is important to tell. At the same time, it will be presented how the birth of the world is told in the Kalevala story.