12 Jun KARAOKE PARADISE
KARAOKE PARADISE
Finland / 2022 / 75’
DIRECTED BY: Einari Paakkanen
SCREENPLAY BY: Einari Paakkanen
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Marita Hällfors
EDITED BY: Antti Reikko, Einari Paakkanen
PRODUCED BY: Marianne Mäkelä
VISUAL EFFECT: Teemu Pitkänen
FESTIVALS AND AWARDS: DocsBarcelona, ES 2022
Faces. Places. And songs are sung with all the soul. A fun portrayal of the Finnish passion for karaoke. Each character in this endearing documentary has a story to share. Karaokes are the antidote to loneliness and medicine to enjoy in the community without great pretensions. We travel through Finland hidden behind the stereotype of an icy and inhospitable country. Filmmaker Einari Paakkanen shows us small, memorable fragments of life. Singing allows you to express emotions, but to do so you need a sense of humor. Garages, bars, the living room… Everyone is welcome to join the Finnish karaoke party. Joy and melancholy merge in this film’s friendly approach, which will leave a lasting impression on its audience.
Einari Paakkanen is a filmmaker focusing on human interest stories and warm and intimate storytelling. He graduated with a Master of Documentary Directing from the Cinema and Audiovisual School of Catalonia. His first feature documentary My Father from Sirius had its international premiere at Warsaw Film Festival in 2016. His other documentaries include Cross-Country and Permission to Fall. Paakkanen has also directed the animation. He has participated in IDFAcademy, Twelve for the Future, Ice & Fire, MFI’s Script 2 Film, and the Berlinale Talents – programs.