Stormskärs Maja - Von Liebe getragen, von Stürmen geprägt (Stormskerry Maja, Myrskyluodon Maija) 
Finland
2024
Opening 3 Apr 2025
Directed by:
Tiina Lymi
Writing credits:
Anni Blomqvist, Tiina Lymi
Principal actors:
Amanda Jansson, Linus Troedsson, Jonna Järnefelt, Tobias Zilliacus, Amanda Kilpeläinen Arvidsson
Maja (Amanda Jansson) and Janne (Linus Troedsson) marry and move to Stormskerry, a.k.a. Stormskärs on the Finnish island of Aland. They first live in a shed on the coast and then build a house. Janne is mostly at sea, practicing his profession as a fisherman. Therefore, over the next twenty years, Maja is often alone, raising five children. Her oldest daughter, Maria, is helpful with the next three sons. And then there is another new baby, daughter Johanna. Maja milks the cow named Tulipane. She seldom has communication with villagers, except when she delivers yarn, which she makes and sells. Rare visitors are Anna with her partner Per, as well as the parents, who come over from Vestergard and would be happy if she moved closer to them. She wishes to remain, saying, “Evil is far from here” („Das Böse ist weit weg von hier.”) Still, war breaks out; British ships are on the horizon. About fifteen British soldiers move in, filling up her house. Communication is difficult with Maja speaking Finnish, the soldiers English. She prepares their meals and otherwise, looks after them. One soldier is especially attracted to her.
This is your typical man/woman, marriage, pregnancies, nakedness, misunderstandings, singleness, deaths, relationship story, all happening around the end of the 1800s. The sea plays a role, always present, as well as wind and sun. The characters, in costumes of that century, walk barefoot everywhere, including into the forest. (Walking into the forest seems typical of films these days, having appeared in the last fifteen films I have seen recently.) The children grow and change, while Maja remains the same. In these times the “woman belongs to the man” („Frau gehört dem Mann.”) Maja attempts to learn to write. Quite religious, she seeks strength through prayer. Based on books by Anni Blomqvist, the story first appeared as a series on Finnish television in 1975-76. One can easily enjoy this long film of two hours and forty minutes, simply because the main actress Amanda Jansson is excellent, as is the music. (Becky Tan)
