Dalarna University's logo and link to the university's website

Short documentary

Sarri and Sanna have been best friends since they were children. In this loving portrait, we follow them as they bake joulutorttu and remember their upbringing, and the feeling of being neither Swedish nor Finnish, but still both. Laughter meets seriousness in this short documentary directed by Julia Qvarnström. The film is part of the Swedish Film Institute's project Glöd (Glow), ten short films in which Sweden's indigenous peoples and national minorities tell their stories.

"Sarri ja Sanna" is a short observational documentary that intimately explores the enduring friendship of Sarri and Sanna, two women of Finnish descent living in rural Sweden. Bound by childhood camaraderie and shared Finnish traditions, the film captures their lively interaction as they celebrate Finland's national day on December 6th.

Through a delightful mix of Swedish and Finnish, the documentary unfolds in the kitchen, where the women reminisce about their lives, sharing anecdotes that transform them into spirited teenagers once again.

The film opens a new and highly personal window into the contemporary lives of Sweden Finns, Sweden's largest minority language group. Its focus on the cultural nuances of the Finland-Swedish experience enriches the understanding of this community, showcasing the strength of bonds that extend beyond blood relations.

"Sarri ja Sanna" was produced in collaboration with the Swedish Film Institute, SVT (Swedish public broadcaster) and film distributor Folkets Bio. The film received a national free-to-air broadcast through Swedish Television and has been shown to thousands of upper secondary school students as part of national educational efforts focussing on Sweden's minority languages.