Writer/director Teemu Nikki pithily describes his darkly comic drama about a man merciful to animals but ruthless to humans as “Dirty Harry with pets,” which should give viewers an idea about this strange and impressive film’s peculiar worldview. It centers on cranky loner Veijo, a black-market pet euthanizer. He’s a true animal lover who delights in personally delivering justice to careless owners who neglect their pets. His unconventional but meticulously organized life is disrupted when he crosses paths with loutish loser Petri, a garage mechanic and member of a neo-Nazi gang, and Lotta, a young nurse who works at the hospital where his elderly father is dying. Things start to change for Veijo when he decides to keep rather than kill Petri’s scrappy mutt, and Lotta forces her way into his life, not in the least put off by his dark, prickly personality. Can a man like Veijo ever hope to enjoy an ordinary existence?

In competition for the FIPRESCI Award.

Producer Jani Pösö