Mother of Mine

I am a judge for the Indianapolis-based Heartland Film Festival. This feature film is a Crystal Heart Award Winner and is eligible to be the Grand Prize Winner in October of 2006. The Heartland Film Festival is a non-profit organization that honors Truly Moving Pictures. A Truly Moving Picture “…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life.”

During World War II, the powerful Russians invaded small Finland. The Finns resisted mightily. But, many Finn parents were afraid for their children’s safety and 70,000 were sent to Sweden for their own safety.

Eero, a 9 year old Finn boy, was one of these children who was sent away to neutral Sweden after his father-soldier was killed in battle. His natural mother did this with much love and sorrow. Eero was her only child and the reason for her existence. Eero does not want to go, and he misses his father.

When Eero arrives in Sweden, he is assigned to a foster home on a farm in a very remote region. The new foster-father is loving and nurturing, but the new foster-mother is cold and bitter because she recently lost her only child, a daughter, in an accident. But slowly Eero is accepted by the foster-mother too, and Eero feels loved and secure and happy, and actually stops missing his natural mother.

Then, Eero’s natural mother asks for his return.

Eero, as an older man looks back at his childhood, sometimes tragic and sometimes wonderful, and tries to make sense of it.

The viewer is struck by the great sacrifices the two mothers made for Eero. Mothers are vital to their children because they will always personally care for them. But in extreme circumstances, sometimes letting them go can be just as vital. But certainly it’s much harder.

This film has wonderful acting, directing and cinematography. The bleakness of the Swedish landscape and the simple, dignified lifestyle of the people are brilliantly displayed.

FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Crystal Heart Award winners as well as other Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.