Tove

2020

1h 55m

Biography

Drama

List

90%

Tomatometer

41 Reviews

78%

Audience Score

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Helsinki, 1945. The end of the war brings a new sense of artistic and social freedom for painter Tove Jansson. Modern art, dizzying parties and an open relationship with a married politician: Her unconventional life puts her at odds with her sculptor father's strict ideals. Tove's desire for liberty is put to the test when she meets theatre director Vivica Bandler. Her love for Vivica is electric and all-consuming but Tove begins to realize that the love she truly yearns has to be reciprocated. As she struggles with her personal life, her creative endeavors take her in an unexpected direction. While focusing her artistic dreams on her painting, the work that started as a side project, the melancholic, haunting tales she told scared children in bomb shelters, rapidly takes on a life of its own. The exploits of the Moomins, infused with inspiration from her own life, bring Tove international fame and financial freedom. There's a daily comic strip, a stage play and stories that continue to delight people around the world. But as she begins to find her artistic identity she has to learn to find herself. Her unrequited love for Vivica is preventing her true liberty and only by learning to break away from her can she truly be free. TOVE is a captivating drama about the creative energy of an iconic talent and her turbulent search for identity, desire and freedom.

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Critics Consensus

Tove's conventional approach to depicting the life of a singular talent is offset by Alma Pöysti's outstanding performance in the title role.

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Tom Shone

Times (UK)

The film’s grown-up take on Jansson’s bohemianism marks it out from the recent trove of Disney pics that mushily deify children’s book authors, although you can’t help but wish there was more about the Moomins themselves.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 6, 2022

Full Review

Nell Minow

AWFJ.org

It is heartening to see that writing books loved by children is beginning to be recognized as significant, meaningful, and a genuine artistic achievement in films like Tove, with a complex, layered performance by Alma Poysti.

Jan 10, 2022

Full Review

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

This avoids the usual pitfalls, as it is more about capturing her spirit rather than the creative process and it's beautifully made, beautifully performed, and if you didn't love Tove already you will now. She was always just so blazingly herself.

Jul 29, 2021

Full Review

Elle Haywood

Vague Visages

Pöysti is simply enchanting in Tove, as she captures Jansson’s mysterious and playful nature, and brings to life the spirit of such an iconic and talented artist.

May 15, 2023

Full Review

Daisy Leigh-Phippard

Screen Queens

While thoughtful and moving, Tove fails to achieve the wistful optimism and, at times, melancholic truth Janssons spirit, most famously in the form of her Moomins, offers to the world.

Feb 21, 2022

Full Review

Cate Marquis

AWFJ.org

Tove, Finland's official Oscar entry, captures the drama and charm of Tove Jansson, who captures our hearts.

Jan 10, 2022

Full Review

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isla s

This is a quirky, insightful biopic about the life of an intriguing person - writer and artist/cartoonist Tove Jansson. I was a fan of the Moomins as a kid - I remember watching the cartoon show on CBBC and so this film appealed to me, as I knew little about the creator. I could certainly understand her wanting a form of escapism from the war, as the characters were invented during WWII it'd seem. The LGBT aspect was also interesting. I thought the main character was portrayed well by Alma Poysti. This is a good film I'd recommend, yes.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

So interesting to get to know Tove more. And a couple of moments in the end sure made me cry

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Wonderfully acted, nuanced depiction of Tove Jansson's life and work.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

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Zaida Bergroth

Director

Alma Pöysti

Tove Jansson

Krista Kosonen

Vivica Bandler

Shanti Roney

Atos Wirtanen

Joanna Haartti

Tuulikki Pietilä

Eeva Putro

Maya Vanni

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Synopsis

Helsinki, 1945. The end of the war brings a new sense of artistic and social freedom for painter Tove Jansson. Modern art, dizzying parties and an open relationship with a married politician: Her unconventional life puts her at odds with her sculptor father's strict ideals. Tove's desire for liberty is put to the test when she meets theatre director Vivica Bandler. Her love for Vivica is electric and all-consuming but Tove begins to realize that the love she truly yearns has to be reciprocated. As she struggles with her personal life, her creative endeavors take her in an unexpected direction. While focusing her artistic dreams on her painting, the work that started as a side project, the melancholic, haunting tales she told scared children in bomb shelters, rapidly takes on a life of its own. The exploits of the Moomins, infused with inspiration from her own life, bring Tove international fame and financial freedom. There's a daily comic strip, a stage play and stories that continue to delight people around the world. But as she begins to find her artistic identity she has to learn to find herself. Her unrequited love for Vivica is preventing her true liberty and only by learning to break away from her can she truly be free. TOVE is a captivating drama about the creative energy of an iconic talent and her turbulent search for identity, desire and freedom.

Director: Zaida Bergroth
Producer: Dome Karukoski, Annika Sucksdorff, Helen Vinogradov, Tia Ståhlberg
Screenwriter: Eeva Putro, Jarno Elonen
Production Co: Helsinki Filmi Oy, Doco Digital
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: Swedish
Runtime: 1h 55m

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