Directing

Visa Koiso-Kanttila

Born 1970-01-14 · Oulu, Finland

Acting credits

Father to Son poster
6.8

The film examines the painful relationship between fathers and sons through the eyes of one family. Four generations of men are featured in the film. Father to Son deals with the conflict between generations and their subjective memories, and the way different methods of raising children pass from one generation to the next. How often and to what extent do we repeat the behavioural patterns of our fathers; can we change or break these patterns or is repeating them inescapable, and how many generations are needed for change to occur? Are the values we have inherited from our fathers still valid in the modern world? One of the leading themes of this film is the sensitivity of a man and a boy, and its preservation and suppression.

Father to Son

2004

Thomas poster
7.2

Thomas, a former doctor, a widower, lives alone in a basement apartment in Helsinki. His routine becomes even more limited when his misanthropic brother dies, reducing Thomas' human contact to practically nil. As with many seniors, he's basically invisible to passersby, though Thomas in particular avoids engaging with those around him. When he runs into his estranged daughter Marie, he tries to create a bridge.

Thomas

2009

A Winter's Journey poster
6.0

A documentary film about singing and a young man in search of himself and his voice.

A Winter's Journey

2007

Meaning of Life poster
5.0

Meaning of life is a poetic short film about seeking happiness. The film gives us insight as to what happiness and good life mean for the habitants of Queens, New York City. Do they share the idea of “American Dream” and is it possible for everyone to achieve this? Meaning of life is filmed on black-and-white film, inspired by the “Man With a Movie Camera”.

Meaning of Life

2008

Behind the camera

Father to Son poster
6.8

The film examines the painful relationship between fathers and sons through the eyes of one family. Four generations of men are featured in the film. Father to Son deals with the conflict between generations and their subjective memories, and the way different methods of raising children pass from one generation to the next. How often and to what extent do we repeat the behavioural patterns of our fathers; can we change or break these patterns or is repeating them inescapable, and how many generations are needed for change to occur? Are the values we have inherited from our fathers still valid in the modern world? One of the leading themes of this film is the sensitivity of a man and a boy, and its preservation and suppression.

Father to Son

2004

Star Boys poster
5.9

In a conservative and religious small town in Northern Finland during the late 1970s, the arrival of the sexual revolution disrupts the balance of two architect families. The plot follows two 13-year-old boys, singers in the traditional Star Boys Christmas procession (Tiernapojat), who closely witness their parents' sexual liberation and the resulting marital tensions. Confronted with the adults' behavior and the breakdown of their family structures, the teenagers face upheavals that impact their own transition into adulthood.

Star Boys

2017

Star Boys poster
5.9

In a conservative and religious small town in Northern Finland during the late 1970s, the arrival of the sexual revolution disrupts the balance of two architect families. The plot follows two 13-year-old boys, singers in the traditional Star Boys Christmas procession (Tiernapojat), who closely witness their parents' sexual liberation and the resulting marital tensions. Confronted with the adults' behavior and the breakdown of their family structures, the teenagers face upheavals that impact their own transition into adulthood.

Star Boys

2017

Shepherds of the Earth poster
6.0

The region of Lake Turkana, located in Kenya and Ethiopia, is considered to be “the Cradle of Humankind”. Among other finds, primate fossils from millions of years ago have been discovered in the region. But what about the region’s modern inhabitants and their relationship to their environment? Iiris Härmä, whose previous work includes the award-winning Leaving Africa, had the chance of joining Helsinki University’s researchers, Álvaro Fernández-Llamazares and Mar Cabeza, on their pre-pandemic trip to study the Daasanach people’s relationship to their environment through traditional animal tales. The researchers hope that storytelling would help to bridge the gap between people’s everyday lives and conservation efforts.

Shepherds of the Earth

2022

Mother of Snow Cranes poster
NR

Over 90 years old Ellen Vuosalo has lived many lives. First as a Finnish immigrant in Canada, then as a zoology student in California and finally as a mother of snow cranes in Iran. Iiris Härmä's Mother of Snow Cranes tells the story of an incredible woman's extraordinary life, from love to tragedy to revolution. It is a story about nature, humanity, and the role of women in both the West and Iranian culture. Or as Ellen herself says " What a life! What a world!"

Mother of Snow Cranes

2024

No artwork available
3.1

A rough but beautiful documentary film about the crisis of a man in his forties and his desire for a better life; its a story of parenthood, alcohol, Finnish man and his desire for love. It is also an unusually intimate depiction of the relationship between the father and his son. Despite the seriousness of the topic the film includes black humor and situational comedy

Portrait of a Man

2010

No artwork available
3.1

A rough but beautiful documentary film about the crisis of a man in his forties and his desire for a better life; its a story of parenthood, alcohol, Finnish man and his desire for love. It is also an unusually intimate depiction of the relationship between the father and his son. Despite the seriousness of the topic the film includes black humor and situational comedy

Portrait of a Man

2010

Defiant poster
5.8

After losing her father, Vilma can't find her place in the life of her foster family. As a result of her struggles, Vilma ends up in a juvenile home, where she refuses to be subdued by the arbitrary and abusive staff who run it.

Defiant

2025

A Winter's Journey poster
6.0

A documentary film about singing and a young man in search of himself and his voice.

A Winter's Journey

2007

The Banished poster
8.0

Documentary follows several teens struggling with their everyday life in East-Helsinki.

The Banished

1998

The Banished poster
8.0

Documentary follows several teens struggling with their everyday life in East-Helsinki.

The Banished

1998

No artwork available
NR

The Gypsies have lived in Finland for hundreds of years and they form a significant minority in country. Nevertheless, their every day life is not very well known by the majority and few people understand the issues young Gypsies struggle with.

You Live and Burn

2007

Meaning of Life poster
5.0

Meaning of life is a poetic short film about seeking happiness. The film gives us insight as to what happiness and good life mean for the habitants of Queens, New York City. Do they share the idea of “American Dream” and is it possible for everyone to achieve this? Meaning of life is filmed on black-and-white film, inspired by the “Man With a Movie Camera”.

Meaning of Life

2008