Fantomi

Video. By Venla Elina Helenius. Mänttä Art Festival. 2023

  • Photo by Venla Helenius

Fantomi is a single-channel short film that reflects the relationship with time through three characters. One of the characters collects objects that are somehow temporally incomprehensible, such as fossils, while another character tries to grasp the essence of the wind, which, too, is in its own way beyond one’s grasp. Each character fumbles through the work, seeking something that transcends human time and physicality. The title of the work refers to the motivation behind the characters’ actions: something past and something future feels like a phantom sensation within their bodies. Fantomi is a dimly shot, poem-like short film that embraces small events, like the movement of the wind or rising mist. The work is captured in the twilight: when everything cannot be ssen, other senses are emphasised – sounds, smells and touch.


Fantomi – Excerpt 1
Fantomi – Excerpt 2
Fantomi – Excerpt 3

Credits:

4K video, 18:42 min
Concept, script, directing: Venla Helenius
Sound design, sound recording and music: Johannes Birlinger
Performers: Johanna Karlberg, Minna Partanen
Filming & editing: Venla Helenius
Voice-over: Ritva Loijas
Voice-over recording: Juho Hoikka
Costumes: Venla Helenius
Eng. translation: Eve Lahikainen
Production: Mänttä Art Festival
The work was supported by the Arts Promotion Centre
Finland, Kone Foundation and Mustarinda ry.