Janne Of Love

dir. by Vilma Kartalska, Radko Savov , Bulgaria
runtime: 26 min
screening: July 3rd

„Janne of love” is a humorous investigation of the communicational problems, cultural differences and prejudices of contemporary Europeans. Bulgarian, Finnish and English language “get along, hide real intentions and clash” just like the characters, pointing out the invisible borders in a globalized world. The wild journey starts in Bulgaria, where Millitsa and Anni meet two Finnish boys – Timo and Ilkka. Beer is flowing, the temperatures are getting high, so as the passions. After getting intoxicated and recklessly breaking the law, the feelings of the main characters evolve and culminate in a shameless love confession on the dance floor. Finland, Timo and Millitsa are already married. When alone they are the perfect match, but in public the joyful and noisy Millitsa gives Timo a hard time. Soon the stereotypical views cause their love language to fall apart. They start speaking their native tongues and their mind. Clichés and the bias that Eastern and Western Europeans have against each other burst out in a hilarious argument. Will there be a solution in this never-ending conflict? And who, for God’s sake, is Janne!?

Cast

Millitsa Gladnishka
Juha Hippi
Vilma Kartalska
Miska Kajanus

Credits

Directors: Vilma Kartalska, Radko Savov
Screenwriters: Vilma Kartalska
Producers: Vilma Kartalska Radko Savov

Mykonos Biennale 2015 - Film Festival - Janne of Love - screen shot

Screenings

Festival de Cannes
The Short Film Corner 2014 Cannes
France (videolibrary) Finno-Ugric Film Festival 2014 Tsiistre
Estonia June 7
2014 European premiere Budapest Short Film Festival BuSho 2014 Budapest
Hungary September 4
2014 Access Code Short Film Festival 2014 Srinagar
India September 21
2014 Lucerne International Film Festival 2014 Lucerne
Switzerland (Showcase Selection) Lecce Film Festival 2014 Lecce
Italy December 28
2014 Award for Best Actress /Millitsa Gladnishka/ #TOFF November's edition 2014 USA Winner - Short Narrative Under Cannes - Cannes Underground Film Festival 2015 Cannes
France 3rd International Motion Festival 2015 Nicosia
Cyprus My Love Michelle Short Film Festival 2015 Hollywood Park
USA Colortape International Film Festival 2015 Brisbane
Australia June 15
2015 San Francisco Film Awards 2015 San Francisco
USA Honorable Mention CayFilm Cayman International Film Festival 2015 George Town
Cayman Islands

Directors Statement

Why East and West – the two legs of Europe, are still tripping over each other instead of walking? We are “united in diversity”, right? If nowadays there is one thing that Europeans are united in, it is the fact that they are against diversity. But being a utopian myself, I would still put my eggs in that basket.

I am an Eastern European. 24 years after the Fall of Communism I know what is like to be treated like a second class person. Do I like it? No. Is it gonna change in the near future? Yes, but only if we do something about it. Therefore, my co-director Radko Savov and I went on a quest to reconcile the two warring blocks, offering a witty solution, where at least in a film they can shake hands. Three years after the idea “struck” me, the tangled situation East-West is even worse – mass hysteria over free movement of Bulgarians and Romanians, western delegations boycotting Sochi, the horror in Ukraine… Hostility. Xenophobia. Suspicion. It feels like the Cold War again.

Even though in such times people expect gloomy stories, „JANNE OF LOVE” is a film of hope. It is up-to-date, slightly absurd, moving on the razor’s edge of politically correct. With big doses of humor it points out the sourest problems of contemporary Europe - invisible borders, cultural alienation, and stereotypical perception of “The Foreigner”, illustrated by three languages, which represent willingness or refusal to understand the other. Equipollent opponents defending their own point of view without listening. The truth is that both sides have their reasons to be angry. But how will finger-pointing solve the problem?

And here comes the forth language – the one of unison and creation. In the base lies the idea that we are different, but equal and if we stop staring at the things dividing us, take our time to know each other, we may even find, shockingly, what unites us!? Cause looking through the eyes of a foreigner opens new horizons, not dead ends. And „JANNE OF LOVE” is a reached out hand in search of togetherness.

“Raka”,
Vilma Kartalska
Scriptwriter/Director of „JANNE OF LOVE”

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