Friday, March 14 / 6:30 pm / Ottawa Art Gallery

Program: Two of Hearts, The Missile

Feature presentation \

Though she came to the job in an unusual way, single mother Niina is excelling at her local newspaper. Not ready to settle for her abusive husband, living with her parents, or writing only the most boring pieces of local news, she runs at the opportunity for some investigative journalism. Using the true story of a Soviet missile that crashed at Lake Inari, Finland in 1984, the film finds Niina in the heart of the action at the local hotel hosting the military and foreign correspondents. With quirky charm and a hint of slapstick comedy, Niina battles prejudice and gossip as she uncovers government secrets, in part through her affair with a soldier. At home, she battles her husband and her self-confidence as she lets him worm his way back into her life after he’s released from prison. As the Finnish Erin Brockovich, Oona Airola (winner of Best Actress at the Göteborg Film Festival) brings to life a woman who is struggling and thriving, weak and strong, insecure and confident. An absurdist dramedy of international and personal boundaries, The Missile is ultimately an uplifting story of standing up for oneself (and one’s country).

- Tish Black

Short film \

Two of Hearts

2024 / 6 minutes / Ontario
Director: Mashie Alam
Language: English

Faced with an uncomfortable dilemma, a brother and sister engage in a battle of wits.