Surface
A daughter is harassed by some guys at the local swimming pool - which triggers a violent reaction in her mother. As the mother tries to talk the daughter into standing up for herself, the daughter realizes that her fear of becoming like her mother may be greater than her fear of standing up to the boys who harassed her.
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Elisa KujalaDirector
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Elisa KujalaWriter
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David ErikssonWriter
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André Larsson FlyborgProducer
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Yazza RezaiKey Cast"Emilia"
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Kristina NetterlidKey Cast"Maria"
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Project Title (Original Language):Arvet
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Project Type:Short
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Runtime:7 minutes 23 seconds
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Completion Date:January 9, 2025
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Country of Origin:Sweden
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Country of Filming:Sweden
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Language:Swedish
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Shooting Format:Digitalt HD
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Aspect Ratio:1.85
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
Elisa Kujala is a Finnish director and screenwriter based in Stockholm, Sweden. She has a BA in journalism and she also studied directing and screenwriting at London Film School. Currently, she’s doing her MA in film directing at Aalto University School of Arts.
She has worked in many different TV and film roles so far; as an editor, assistant producer, production manager, script supervisor, and assistant director among others – which has offered her an insight into how to be a multifaceted director. Elisa has also directed and written 8 short films and a short documentary. Her films have been featured in film festivals in the UK and Nordics.
In her films, she usually deals with topics of loneliness and the effects of violence. She explores the themes of mental instability and externality. She wants her films to leave space for self-examination and to challenge us to see the world outside our own social bubbles.
At the moment she’s working on the script of her first feature film script ’Elektra’.
In this film, my primary intention is to explore the intricate dynamics within a mother-daughter relationship and examine the profound consequences of unresolved anger issues as well as the cyclical nature of pain passed down through generations. The focal point of the story is the central sequence of events – the mother's violent defense against her daughter's attacker – which becomes the catalyst for a profound crack in their once close bond.
This film is a personal journey for me, drawn from my own life and an ongoing reflection on how much of my behavior mirrors my mother's. Growing up, I often found myself pondering the subtle ways her influence shaped my actions and perspective. This exploration became a driving force behind the story as I explored the intricate dynamics of a mother-daughter relationship. The film delves into the universal curiosity about family influence and raises thoughts about how deep-rooted traits and behaviors can be transmitted from one generation to the next. Through the protagonist's introspective journey, the story becomes a mirror that reflects my own questions about identity and the long-term impact of family ties on our lives.
This film is important because it addresses something that isn't often shown in films – violence involving women. It makes us think about whether people see violence differently when it comes from women. The film raises questions about how we react to violence, especially when women are involved. It explores whether society has different views depending on the gender of the person causing harm. The film examines the complications of dealing with situations where people close to us are violent or are attacked. It challenges us to think about whether violence can ever be acceptable, especially in close relationships.
/ Elisa Kujala