This is a decent movie about the immigrant experience -- this time, Iranian refugees in Finland. This refugee family is awaiting the green card or deportation decision, and meanwhile is successfully making a life for themselves. A lot of the movie is very low key, showing how nice the family is and how well they are fitting in. But the end of the movie was touching and strong, and makes the movie worth considering if the topic is of interest.
5 Reviews
changes perspective
maria-6917625 January 2022
This movie makes you change your perspective on people's rights and shows the point of wiew on life that is not so often showed. The scenes are good and the story is semi easy to follow. The end of the movie is made "unclear" but the watcher still knows what's happening. Specially the end makes the movie super emotional.
So so polemic but with heartbreaking 'oh so that's why it's called that' denouement!
Bofsensai22 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
More of a polemic than a film; but deserves kudos for attempting to fashion and humanise a story out of such heartbreak: by which the young Aran-Sina Keshvari - as in effect, main character, Ramin - deserves equal kudos for a brave, affecting debut performance; and for that of youngsters, then also along with his equally young Finn friend, Jigi (Jyrki Nousianen), interestingly not only written / shown / acting as up for dress-wearing (budding transvestism?!), but also with that scripted in that not one of his school compatriots ridicules or bullies him over .. (- if only it were so, Hamy and Antti: scriptwriters).
And the closing dance pair with breakout smile - of the girl partner, most especially (pity can't find her name in the credits to so praise*) - is worthy of some of those other famous last scene facial longueur shots. Wonderful.
Although I did find it odd (grating!) that, if Iranian asylum seekers, then aren't such country-people de rigueur Muslim, yet that ever jovial Dad (Niilo Airas) is fond of the booze so much (and so too his portrayed as marginally annoying shelter corridor chum ...);
But then, is it (really?) based on real life that Finnish police (have to) undergo such duties as portrayed here? For if so, this would be polemic enough if only to imagine the trauma caused to their classmates alone, as its inferred that in an almost erstwhile Soviet** style, they just suddenly disappear out of their lives (it is only Laura Birn as their form teacher who is on directed to exhibit / represent this aspect of wrenching emotion.) But then, well, along with the drinking, I take from the film's come on listed here, that "the story is loosely based on the childhood experiences of the director." So there ya go! Surely scandalous: as no doubt the director/ scriptwriter rightly intended.
BTW: the English title ('Any Day Now') may - charitably - 'cleverly' have two meanings, if not otherwise state the obvious 'meh'-like; but you should know the original Finnish title given, being 'First Snow' is perhaps one of the most clever and indeed, by which, heart-rendering, I've ever come across, and of which to, then, I would want to highly recommend just letting this wash over you until you get to the point where that becomes an 'ah hah, I see'*** moment: tear-jerker indeed (= real clever there, Hamy / Antti!)
* yet you can find the 'dance teacher', yet who is hardly of much relevance (even if seen!) to the film!
** i.e. Even worse, when you know the ex-Soviet Union was the worst bogeyman for Finns!
***or, literally, virtually not! Heartbreaking, indeed!
And the closing dance pair with breakout smile - of the girl partner, most especially (pity can't find her name in the credits to so praise*) - is worthy of some of those other famous last scene facial longueur shots. Wonderful.
Although I did find it odd (grating!) that, if Iranian asylum seekers, then aren't such country-people de rigueur Muslim, yet that ever jovial Dad (Niilo Airas) is fond of the booze so much (and so too his portrayed as marginally annoying shelter corridor chum ...);
But then, is it (really?) based on real life that Finnish police (have to) undergo such duties as portrayed here? For if so, this would be polemic enough if only to imagine the trauma caused to their classmates alone, as its inferred that in an almost erstwhile Soviet** style, they just suddenly disappear out of their lives (it is only Laura Birn as their form teacher who is on directed to exhibit / represent this aspect of wrenching emotion.) But then, well, along with the drinking, I take from the film's come on listed here, that "the story is loosely based on the childhood experiences of the director." So there ya go! Surely scandalous: as no doubt the director/ scriptwriter rightly intended.
BTW: the English title ('Any Day Now') may - charitably - 'cleverly' have two meanings, if not otherwise state the obvious 'meh'-like; but you should know the original Finnish title given, being 'First Snow' is perhaps one of the most clever and indeed, by which, heart-rendering, I've ever come across, and of which to, then, I would want to highly recommend just letting this wash over you until you get to the point where that becomes an 'ah hah, I see'*** moment: tear-jerker indeed (= real clever there, Hamy / Antti!)
* yet you can find the 'dance teacher', yet who is hardly of much relevance (even if seen!) to the film!
** i.e. Even worse, when you know the ex-Soviet Union was the worst bogeyman for Finns!
***or, literally, virtually not! Heartbreaking, indeed!
Beautiful, like the falling of the first snow.
heyxul18 December 2021
A refreshing take on life of asylum seekers in Europe.
I was surprised by the total lack of the myriad of stereotypes usually found in the genre, racist encounters with the natives, criminal immigrants, world politics, violence, abuse etc.
Acting is superb, especially Hosseini who plays the part of the father of the family. Imagery and direction is beautifully done.
With a sad undertone in the film, it depicts marvellously the longing for peace and stability in life, and brushes on the cold bureaucracy too often associated with immigration process of asylum seekers.
The films name is in the Finnish "Ensilumi", which translates to first snow. Apt description of the film on many levels..
I was surprised by the total lack of the myriad of stereotypes usually found in the genre, racist encounters with the natives, criminal immigrants, world politics, violence, abuse etc.
Acting is superb, especially Hosseini who plays the part of the father of the family. Imagery and direction is beautifully done.
With a sad undertone in the film, it depicts marvellously the longing for peace and stability in life, and brushes on the cold bureaucracy too often associated with immigration process of asylum seekers.
The films name is in the Finnish "Ensilumi", which translates to first snow. Apt description of the film on many levels..
A film that will move you
nfarhikhtah24 November 2021
The focus of this movie is simply the personalities of the charcters and their relationships with each other. Without saying much, this movie says it all. Beautifully put together. It's a shame that this film is not more well-known.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
