A tender-hearted coming-of-age story shot in a low-key, realist style, this Finnish charmer centers on a resourceful adolescent who decides to track down her biological father-by car.

For her first dramatic feature, director Selma Vilhunen draws on her documentary background to deal sensitively and intelligently with difficult real-life issues such as bullying, poverty, mental illness and dysfunctional families.

Twelve years old and small for her age, Varpu may not be as physically developed as other girls but she is mature and independent beyond her years. Indeed, it's her mother that behaves in an inappropriately child-like manner: crying when she can't pass her driver's test, clambering into her daughter's bed when she feels sad and lonely and complaining about her life rather than asking Varpu about hers. She can't even remember her daughter's birthday.

Yearning for a less self-centered parent, one night Varpu decides to go find her dad. But even though she can act like an adult, it doesn't mean she has an adult's understanding of the world...

Selma Vilhunen – Director (January 6 & 7 only)