On November 17, Scandinavia House presents a special screening and director talk featuring Finland’s official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards: the absurd, warm-hearted dystopian drama The Squirrel. Director Markus Lehmusruusu will be present for a film talk and Q&A.

The Squirrel / Orava
Dir. Markus Lehmusruusu, Finland/Germany/Netherlands/Sweden, 2026 | 93 min.
In Finnish with English subtitles

In the far future, in a sterile, frictionless world without nature or animals – Pasi, a lonely, compassionate designer of synthetic pets, stumbles upon the last surviving squirrel by chance. He decides to defy the very strict regulations of interaction with what little nature is left in the world and help ease the squirrel back into its natural habitat. However, when his actions lead to unexpected consequences, Pasi is confronted with a profound dilemma: should he venture into the wild with the squirrel or jeopardize the safety of his fragile, tightly-regulated world to keep the squirrel by his side?

Deftly balancing biting satire, a portrait of an authoritarian dystopia, and a timid romance, Markus Lehmusruusu kindles those fires of humanity in a world where they have nearly been extinguished. Its chilly aesthetic and deadpan humor inevitably evoke Aki Kaurismäki, yet beneath the cold exterior lies a surprisingly warm story about resisting conformity and stepping beyond one’s comfort zone.

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