Milka – A Film About Taboos

Adapted from a novel by the late Finnish author Timo Mukka, this straightforward narrative explores the consequences when Milka (Irma Huntus), a young girl on the brink of adulthood, becomes pregnant by Ojanen (Matti Turunen), a simple farmhand. Milka’s mother had aspirations of marrying Ojanen herself, and her daughter’s unexpected pregnancy upends their lives. Set against the stunning backdrop of northern Finland’s Lapp region, the film captures the breathtaking beauty and isolation of the landscape. The film’s slow-paced dialogue, punctuated by extended silences, emphasizes a profound sense of natural solitude. This connection between nature and conversation is further highlighted as young Milka recites poetry amidst the countryside. Ultimately, the future of Milka and her mother hinges on the choice Ojanen makes in the end.