Family Time (film)

Family Time
Family Time
	Official poster
Finnish	Mummola
Directed by	Tia Kouvo
Written by	Tia Kouvo
Produced by	Jussi Rantamäki; Emilia Haukka;
Starring	Leena Uotila; Tom Wentzel; Ria Kataja; Elina Knihtilä; Jarkko Pajunen; Sakari Topi; Elli Paajanen; Toomas Talikka;
Cinematography	Jesse Jalonen
Edited by	Okku Nuutilainen
Production; companies	Aamu Film Company; Film i Väst; Vilda Bomben Film;
Distributed by	Aurora Studios; The Match Factory;
Release dates	20 February 2023 (Berlinale); 10 November 2023 (Finland);
Running time	114 minutes
Countries	Finland; Sweden;
Language	Finnish

Family Time (Finnish: Mummola) is a 2023 comedy-drama film written and directed by Tia Kouvo in her feature directorial debut. Starring Leena Uotila, Ria Kataja, Elina Knihtilä and Tom Wentzel, the film follows an annual family Christmas get-together that sees the usual tensions rise. It's based on Kouvo's s 2018 short of the same name.^[1]^[2]

The film had its world premiere in the Encounters section of the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival on 20 February 2023. It was chosen as the Finnish entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.^[3]

Cast

Ria Kataja as Susanna
Elina Knihtilä as Helena
Leena Uotila as Ella
Tom Wentzel as Lasse
Jarkko Pajunen as Risto
Sakari Topi as Simo
Elli Paajanen as Hilla
Toomas Talikka as Kassu

Production

It was reported on 15 September 2021, that Aamu Film Company is going to produce the film, which is going in production in February and March 2022. Produced by Jussi Rantamäki and Emilia Haukka, the cast includes Leena Uotila, Elina Knihtilä and Ria Kataja.^[4] Aamu Film is producing the film in co-production with Sweden-based Vilda Bomben Film and Film i Väst. Tom Wentzel, Jarkko Pajunen, Elli Paajanen and Toomas Talikka were selected as supporting cast.^[2]

Release

Family Time had its world premiere in the Encounters section of the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival on 20 February 2023.^[5]^[6] Aurora Studios is in charge of Finland distribution, whereas The Match Factory is handling world sales for the film.^[7]

Reception

Fionnuala Halligan of Screen Daily wrote that the film "makes very interesting choices around a fairly conventional structure", concluding, "It's a trope to compare every Finnish director to Aki Kaurismäki, but there is that same deadpan air to Family Time – and a distinctive style that indicates a young director feeling her way to an interesting future."^[8] Meredith Taylor of Filmuforia wrote: "Family Time is a mature and memorable debut, Kouvo channelling Bergman, in his obsession to sweat the small stuff. Certainly a name to remember for the future."^[9]

Accolades

Award	Date of ceremony	Category	Recipient	Result	Ref.
Berlin International Film Festival	26 February 2023	Golden Bear Plaque	Family Time	Nominated	^[10]
Berlin International Film Festival	26 February 2023	GWFF Best First Feature Award	Tia Kouvo	Nominated	^[11]^[12]