Eerie drama bearing all the hallmarks of a fully-fledged folk horror.

Three students set out on an aimless midsummer sailing trip and become entranced by the mysterious inhabitants of a remote island. One of them - Kristoffer – is drawn to Henrika – a wide-eyed and ethereal young woman who lives a simple, frugal life with no-one for company but her gruff father, an uncouth farmhand and an eccentric old fisherman. But what secrets are the islanders keeping? Unable to tear himself away, Kristoffer decides to stay for the summer to unravel the mysteries of this isolated, superstitious community.  Folklore, the supernatural and ritual weave a sinister spell, intensified by the starkly beautiful archipelago locations. 

Dir. Teuvo Puro | Finland | 1926 | N/C 12A | b&w, tinted & toned | Finnish and English intertitles | 1h 40m

With: Urho Seppälä, Kaarlo Kytö, Ilmari Unho, Axel Slangus, Heidi Blåfield-Korhonen

Original title: Meren kasvojen edessä

Performing live: Jane Gardner (piano), Caroline Salmon (voice, violin and bass viol)

Screening material courtesy of Finnish Film Archive
Online programme notes by Antti Alanen

CONTENT ADVISORY: Contains suicide, knife violence