Markus Lehmusruusu’s science fiction drama “The Squirrel” has been chosen as Finland’s official entry for the Academy Awards. The film stars Miro Lopperi, Mimosa Willamo, and Hannu-Pekka Björkman and was recently screened at Fantastic Fest. It is being handled internationally by REinvent International Sales and produced by multiple companies including Bufo, Pallas Film, Volya Films, and Zentropa Sweden.
The narrative follows Pasi, a designer of artificial pets living in a sterile future where nature and animals have seemingly disappeared. His life changes when he encounters what may be the last surviving squirrel in the world. After bringing the animal home, Pasi discovers that the creature cannot thrive in his controlled environment and belongs in the natural world.
Lehmusruusu has received praise from filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki, who characterized the work as a masterpiece and drew comparisons to Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey,” while noting that his film contains greater emphasis on human values. The director acknowledged that creating a film spanning multiple genres represents a considerable creative risk.
The filmmaker discussed his thematic interests, explaining that the story explores how characters initially resistant to instinctive urges gradually become drawn toward them. He reflected on humanity’s relationship with nature and technology, questioning what might be lost if natural systems were replaced with artificial alternatives. Lehmusruusu also addressed the film’s treatment of sexuality as a fundamental human experience increasingly displaced by modern society’s detachment from bodily reality.
Regarding the squirrel’s role, Lehmusruusu emphasized his commitment to authenticity, declining to anthropomorphize the animal with exaggerated expressions. He described the film’s approach to conflict as unconventional for dystopian science fiction, focusing on the consequences of indifference and good intentions taken to harmful extremes rather than obvious villainy. Despite exploring darker thematic elements, Lehmusruusu indicated his intent for the film to function as entertainment that is simultaneously entertaining, humorous, and uplifting.
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