Aurora (2019 film)

Aurora is a 2019 Finnish romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Miia Tervo, in her feature film debut. The film follows Aurora (Mimosa Willamo), a somewhat aimless nail technician with a drinking problem living in Rovaniemi. A series of chance encounters leads her to agree to help Darian (Amir Escandari), an Iranian asylum-seeker, find a wife so he can stay in Finland with his young daughter. The film had its world premiere at the Gothenburg Film Festival on 25 January 2019. It received positive reviews from critics and won seven Jussi Awards, including Best Film.

Aurora
Promotional poster
Directed by	Miia Tervo
Written by	Miia Tervo
Produced by	Mahsa Malka [fi]
Starring	Mimosa Willamo Amir Escandari
Production company	Dionysos Films
Release date	25 January 2019 (2019-01-25)
Country	Finland
Languages	Finnish English

Plot

Aurora flees from a one-night stand and returns to the home of her alcoholic father Reijo. A repossessor arrives to take pictures of the place, stating they were informed about the eviction months ago. Her father is in denial; Aurora wants to take flowers to her mother’s grave for her birthday. She takes him to rehab for the latest in a string of many 90-day stays. Meanwhile, Darian struggles to accommodate his young daughter at a refugee facility not meant for children. An employee, Tiina, takes them to her home, although her husband Juha objects.

Facing possible homelessness, Aurora enjoys a wild night out with her friend and coworker Kinky. They consider possible money-making schemes — Aurora landing on giving colonics in Norway. Darian weighs possible methods to get asylum; Tiina suggests he finds a spouse. When Tiina realizes she has forgotten her anniversary with Juha, Darian offers to go for a walk to give them some privacy. Aurora and Darian run into each other a hot dog restaurant. Darian is short 50 cents, and a drunken Aurora spots him the cash. They get to talking; he shares he is considering killing himself to help get his daughter’s residency secured.

Aurora gets a temporary job supervising the cranky elderly woman Liisa. Meanwhile, Kinky is angry to learn that Aurora drunkenly applied for a loan so they can move to Norway. Aurora sees Darian again at the hot dog stand. He offers her 3000 EUR if she will help find him a wife. She turns him down and leaves, saying she is not the right person for the job.

She runs into him again at the grocery store — this time seeing him with his daughter. The trio get a meal together, with Aurora agreeing to help him and giving him some unsolicited advice about dating. Kinky suggests at work that Aurora may be interested in Darian, which she denies. Aurora introduces Darian to Liisa, who shares she is also a refugee, from Karelia. Liisa offers up a potential wife in her lesbian friend, who faces judgement from the other old women. Everyone gets dressed up, but the woman dies on the way to the wedding. Aurora sets him up on more dates, each going worst than the last. He thanks her, and they two share an awkward good-night. Juha takes Darian out winter swimming. The two bond over jokes around the fire, with Juha asking if Darian is just a friend.

Aurora’s father is hospitalized, and she calls Darian for emotional support. They get into bed together, kiss, and end up having sex. Darian and Azar celebrate Christmas with Tiina, Juha, and their children. Overwhelmed with her feelings, Aurora blacks out on a night out and wakes up in the hospital, having had her stomach pumped. The hospital worker gives her a phone number for help with substance abuse but she leaves, insisting she is fine. Darian is interviewed by immigration about his relationship with Aurora, where he confesses he loves her. Afterwards, he throws up and returns home to commiserate with Juha.

Aurora accepts she has a problem, entering rehab and joining a support group for alcoholics. After getting sober, she drives to track down Darian and Azar and they reunite as a new family.

Cast

• Mimosa Willamo as Aurora: a dissatisfied nail technician
• Amir Escandari as Darian: a widowed Iranian refugee with a daughter, Azar
• Elà Yildirim as Azar: Darian’s daughter
• Oona Airola as Kinky: Aurora’s friend and coworker
• Miitta Sorvali as Liisa: an elderly woman from Karelia
• Ria Kataja as Tiina: worker at the refugee facility
• Chike Ohanwe [fi] as Juha: Tiina’s husband
• Hannu-Pekka Björkman as Reijo: Aurora’s alcoholic father
• Pamela Tola as Ulla

Production

Aurora was written and directed by Miia Tervo, in her feature film debut. The producer was Mahsa Malka [fi].^[1] The film was shot in Rovaniemi.^[2]

Release

It had its premiere as the opening of the Gothenburg Film Festival on 25 January 2019.^[3] It had its American premiere at South by Southwest.^[4]. The film was also shown on Yle TV2 in 2021.^[5]

Reception

The film received 4/5 stars from Leena Virtanen [fi] in Helsingin Sanomat.^[6] It also received a positive review from Alissa Simon in Variety.^[4] Aurora won seven Jussi Awards, including Best Film.^[7] It was nominated for the Nordic Council Film Prize.^[8]