The Gracious Ones

The Gracious Ones is a poetic short film inspired by Italo western and high fashion aesthetics. It follows three main protagonists on their symbolic journey through solitary landscapes, towards feminine strength, self acceptance and togetherness. Fragmented shots reframe gendered narratives of heroism, corporeality, gaze, and communality.

The Gracious Ones was tailored for “Fears or Fierce?” feministic horror house exhibition in August 2020 in Oksasenkatu 11, Helsinki. The film explores the concepts of fear and being fierce by remodelling the lone wolf narrative from western genre in a gentle and playful way. Who gets to be the hero? What is it to be brave in this world? What kind of heroines, empowering narratives and their representations could there be, if we let go from the old gender stereotypes and expectations of the film industry and our culture?

  • Ilona Lehtonen
    Director
    Phantasmagoria
  • Ilona Lehtonen
    Writer
    Phantasmagoria
  • Helena Aleksandrova
    Producer
    Death in Paradise
  • Tia Hassinen
    Producer
    Phantasmagoria
  • Helena Aleksandrova
    Key Cast
  • Roxana Sadvokassova
    Key Cast
  • Pihla Sudenyö
    Key Cast
  • Saku Kämäräinen
    Music
  • Pääsky Piikkilä
    Sound Design
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    The Gracious Ones (Armolliset)
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    western, fantasy, experimental, art film
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 16 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 31, 2020
  • Country of Origin:
    Finland
  • Country of Filming:
    Finland
  • Language:
    No Dialogue
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Fears or Fierce?, Oksasenkatu 11
    Helsinki
    Finland
    August 13, 2020
Director Biography - Ilona Lehtonen

Ilona Lehtonen is a fine artist and VJ who works mainly with moving image and experimental video installations. They have graduated as a Master of Art from Aalto University and as a Fine Artist from Tampere University of Applied Sciences.

Lehtonen’s latest works explore gendered experiences in parallel with questions surrounding the gaze and spectatorship in moving image. Recurring themes are roles and stereotypes, outsiders, environment, cultural reflections and authenticity.

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