University of Helsinki Annika Grof described an embarrassing documentary about the university that penetrates close to her subjects – It reveals the “strange development process” of study, the consequences of which are not yet understood

Helsinki|university of Helsinki

Can you to change the University Act to make an interesting film?

At least the film director believes in an affirmative answer Annika Grofby a documentary Other sounds (2022) will be published for public viewing at the turn of January-February.

The film follows the skies of four university students in the aftermath of the 2009 reform of the University Act. After the law reform, cuts followed, and massive redundancies took place at the University of Helsinki. At the same time, according to many, academic freedom was curtailed.

The movie the protagonist will be a legal historian and a professor Jukka Kekkonen, whose mission is to get into the ranks of the SDP and amend the University Act.

In addition to Kekkonen’s story, the film follows a French lecturer who challenged his dismissal in the district court. Gaela Keryell, An advocate of “useless information” Taina Saarikiveä and a scientific professional, a sociologist Lena Näretä.

Watching Kekkonen’s campaigning at the grassroots level offers the viewer an interesting peek into the world of politics: election work is at times quite a shudder, but the belief in a good result is hardly shaken. Grof has gotten to watch everything so closely that sometimes the viewer even has to meander in his chair.

Eventually, everything will be intertwined in the film when the result of the parliamentary elections is released in the spring of 2019. Kekko will not be elected as a Member of Parliament.

Film director Annika Grof, where did you get the idea for the university-themed documentary?

“I myself graduated from the University of Helsinki in 2000. In 2018, I talked to a familiar professor and he said you couldn’t believe what the university has become like.

I began to find out what it was all about and it turned out that there was a change in the law that started a strange development. Then I thought we had to make this a movie. I’ve made films in the past about so-called ‘sexless’ subjects. ”

What did you want to say in the movie?

“I have always valued research and what it means for individuals and society. I did my master’s degree myself Mao Tse-tungin philosophy of education, that is, such a very marginal subject. Sometimes, however, such studies are revealed to be the most useful. University reforms have narrowed the field of research.

With the film, I wanted to tell you that there have been huge changes in universities, the effects of which will only be visible for a long time to come and will affect us all. ”

What was the movie like?

“The production was of the woman and camera type. I just wrestled around the university with a camera. The camera was really heavy, and the winter weather was very challenging.

I knew so little about the theme at first that I left as if ‘naked’ to find out without preconceptions. I just picked up the viewer.

I don’t usually want to be part of the story of my movies, but here it was natural. ”

Did a moment in the making of the film come to mind in particular?

“The election night in the spring of 2019 was very memorable. From the point of view of the film, a terrible tension erupted.

That night, my own social fears also intensified: what will Finnish power do in the future, and can everyone really stand as an equal candidate in the election? I don’t think all Finns really have the opportunity to make a good campaign. It requires money as well as a wide range of abilities and skills. Even a party may not always sufficiently support an individual candidate.

I was struck by how big of a heart and without fear Jukka made himself exposed to everything. Circumstances brought tragicomic. ”

Now that you are familiar with the subject, how do you think universities should be developed?

“University democracy should be restored. Before the reform of the University Act, university students were allowed to decide for themselves on their own affairs within their own community.

Now they are not listened to and they have to fear when they do their job that they will lose their job. This has a direct impact on what kind of information we all receive and whether the academic world is a counterweight to political power. ”

The Other Voices documentary premieres At the Docpoint Film Festival January 31-February 6, 2022 The festivals are only held online, as it is not possible to run a public festival within the current corona restrictions.

Read more: This year, Docpoint will only be held online without a live audience