THE HEART OF A LION
Finland, 2013, 104 minutes, Colour .
Peter Franzen, Laura Birn, Jasper Paakkonen, Yusufa Sidibeh.
Directed by Dome Karukoski.
The 21st century, with the upheavals in the Middle East as well as in Africa, has seen huge migration to continental Europe. This film, from Finland, is an attempt to explore some of the consequences of the migration and the huge reaction against it by racists, especially with neo-Nazi ideology bursting into violence.
This is a visual critique of the neo-Nazis, the group presented completely unsympathetically, their skinheads, their tattooed properties, their emphasis on the physique, playing sport together, some homoerotic overtones.
However, the central character is a committed neo-Nazi, sometimes slow on the uptake, admitting that he has difficulty with thinking, reading, doing casual jobs but attracted to a waitress and beginning an affair with her, only to discover that her son has a black father. The boy does not take to the neo-Nazi as a stepfather, calling him a Nazi loser.The man is also cautious but his girlfriend relies on him to be a father-figure, take the boy to school where he sees him being bullied, teaches him some fighting moves and then intervenes to exchange shirts with the bullies, giving them the torn shirt – only for him to be attacked by a group of angry fathers.
Another complication is that the girlfriend becomes pregnant and spends time in hospital while his half brother, also a committed neo-Nazi who wants out of the Army, comes to stay with him. The point of the narrative is that gradually the father-figure warms to the boy and become something of a father, even reading The Lord of the Rings to his stepson. The half brother is hostile but defends his brother who wants to help him with a loan to rebuild the family home but he sets off a grenade in the outhouse and kills himself.
In a symbolic ending, the neo-Nazis come and callously cut off the tattoo from the body of their former comrade – who finishes up laughing what has happened along with the boy.
An interesting comparison is the Australian film, Downunder, about race riots and the stupidity of racism in Cronulla in 2005.
1. A Finland perspective on migration from Africa and the Middle East to Europe, to Scandinavia, to Finland? The presentation of racism and, neo-Nazis? The presentation of ordinary citizens? Racism and tolerance? Humanity?
2. The locations, the town, bars, homes, playing fields, countryside? The musical score?
3. The introduction to Teppo, the induction to the neo-Nazis, skinheads, statues, rituals, loyalties? Teppo and his motivation, enthusiastically joining in the activities? The attacks on Blacks, Chinese, serving in shops and demanding receipts, the overturning of the fast food kiosk? The camaraderie, playing sport, the homoerotic suggestions? The men and their loyalty to the group, and this being their complete life? The chant for White Finland?
4. Teppo, at the bar, the discussion with Sari, the extra cup of coffee, his having no money, his not being intelligent, working with his hands, jobs? The attraction? Giving him the extra cup of coffee, going home, the sexual encounter? Her discovery of his neo-Nazi tattoo and her not wanting anything to do with him? His being ousted, going back, her consenting for him to come home? Her explanation about her son – and his
black father?
5. The pressure on Teppo, the group, going on violent sprees?
6. The personal development for Teppo, his liking Sari, his being taken aback by her son, a request that he be a stepfather, initial reluctance, the demands, taking the boy to school, the boy’s hostility towards him, calling him a Nazi loser? The gradual change, the human feelings, for both mother, gradually for the boy? The bullying in the schoolyard and his training the boy in some techniques? His confronting the boys, changing the torn shirt, the visit of the parents and their violent attack on him? The return, the neo-Nazis and the confrontation and fight? The group offering money?
7. Teppo’s brother, his turning up, leaving the Army, Teppo taking him back, interview with the commander, his stripping off his uniform, moving into the house? Teppo trying to protect the boy? The brother, the delineation of white and coloured sections, notice on the door of Whites Only? The boy conforming to this?
8. Sari, going to hospital, pregnancy, the decision to have the baby, absent from home, the visits?
9. The bonding between the boy and Teppo, Teppo reading him The Lord Of the Rings?
10. The personality of the brother, his taunts, Teppo’s demands, a gradual mellowing? Teppo going to the family property, the possibility for a loan, the building again, the brother going into the outhouse, the grenades and his blowing himself up?
11. The neo-Nazis, coming to the home, the brutal removal of the tattoo, Sari coming home, Teppo laughing, his breaking free of the neo-Nazis, the possibility for him to live a human life?
12. The films presentation of the brutal neo-Nazis, their prejudice, racism, isolation, fanaticism about White Finland? The contrast with human experience and its changing brutal ideology?
