2016 Red Rock Film Festival

The Canaries (Kanarialinnut)
(Finland) In Finnish with English subtitles
(2015) 78 min. (16:9)

DIR Jari Kokko, PRO Jari Kokko, SCR Jari Kokko, DP Saija Mäki-Nevala, EDIT Katja Pällijeff, MUS Cleaning Women (Timo Kinnunen, Teo Vänttinen, Risto Puurunen), CAST Pekka Mustonen, Päivi Luomala, Katja Minkkinen, Susanna Puhakka, Mika Kalmi

Sadly, individuals suffering from mold sickness are often still marked as nothing more but neurotic troublemakers, chronic complainers, or just plain mad. Hundreds of thousands of Finns are exposed to mold and moisture microbes every day. Because of the illness the victims have had to withdraw from their everyday life. What used to be home has turned into a prison and isolation has become a safe haven. The documentary follows the lives of the protagonists for one year, and shows how the physical symptoms of the illness is only part of the problem. The illness has devastated their lives and social relationships. Internet and social media are their most important form of interaction and connection to the outside world. Additional difficulties come from the irresponsibility and ridicule frequently demonstrated by society and the public. The victims have created their own means of survival in order to carry on and decide what they really want to do in their lives, within the limitations set by the illness. Today, people who have fallen ill are like the canaries that in the past used to be taken down to the mines. When the bird started falling ill, people knew that the air was toxic and it was time to leave. Only today no one is taking the signs seriously.