New Finnish Cinema: Little Wing

Tyttö nimeltä Varpu / Photo by Cata Portin

Frustrated by her mother’s erratic behavior, a 12-year-old girl sets out on an impromptu quest to find her birth father, in this sharp and touching portrait of adolescence.

The girls at the stable where 12-year-old Varpu rides and trains have started to comment about Varpu’s home life, including her mother’s odd behavior and absences, and the fact that Varpu never mentions her father.

Pressured by her peers and overwhelmed by her mother’s dependence on her, Varpu grows increasingly frustrated and embarks on an impromptu quest to find her biological father. But even as she takes on more responsibilities—including driving a car—she soon discovers that the ability to do adult things doesn’t make her an adult.

Addressing adolescence, healthy relationships and mental health, Little Wings showcases the conflicts that can arise between childhood and adulthood. Directed by Selma Vilhunen (Finland, Denmark, 2016).