Hard-partying Aurora dreams of escaping her rote life in Finnish Lapland for Norway, working as a nail technician while couch-crashing with a friend to save money. Meanwhile, Iranian refugee Darian is hoping to secure permanent residency for himself and daughter by marrying a Finnish woman. When a late-night encounter at a hot-dog stand one night finds them at their most desperate, Aurora and Darian strike-up a deal: in exchange for cash to fund her move to Norway, Aurora will help Darian to find a wife.

As the pair navigate through various potential candidates, Darian finds himself learning a thing or two about the strong outspoken women of Finland, while commitment-phobic Aurora begins to develop a connection with Darian’s daughter Azar. But when the perfect wife comes along, Aurora and Darian begin to realize that happiness may mean something different than they’d planned.

“Suffused with tenderness and melancholy”—Variety

“Aurora is a feel-good, starkly contrasted, romance about two people at their ends of life, looking for a new beginning.”—Film Threat

The health and well-being of visitors to Scandinavia House is always the top priority for those of us here. As a result, we have been closely monitoring all news related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and any implications for Scandinavia House guests.

Film screenings will take place with these measures in place:

• Ticket sales to both events have been limited to ensure that no crowding will take place, and so that all guests can sit comfortably within Victor Borge Hall while maintaining a distance from other visitors. If you are planning to attend either event, we recommend purchasing tickets in advance. 
• Seats in Victor Borge Hall will be professionally cleaned and disinfected both before and after the events.
• All surfaces throughout Scandinavia House are being routinely cleaned and disinfected at increased intervals by building staff.
• Hand sanitizers are available at the front desk, outside of Victor Borge Hall, and in stations on the B-level.

Miia Tervo (b. 1980) is an award-winning writer and director from Finnish Lapland. Her short films have been screened and awarded around the world. The Little Snow Animal (2010) was EFA-nominated, and Clumsy Little Acts of Tenderness (2015) was also screened around the globe from Palms Springs to Oberhausen.

Tervo’s other short films include Santra and the Talking Trees and The Seal. Aurora is her debut feature.

Kicking off in coordination with International Women’s Day in March, ASF highlights strong new Nordic cinema from female perspectives directed by women in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.

Britt-Marie Was Here /Britt-Marie var här—FRI—MAR 6
Aurora—FRI—MAR 13
That Time of the Year /Den tid på året—FRI—MAR 20
Gods of Molenbeek /Aatos ja amine—FRI—MARCH 27
Transnistra—FRI—APR 3
Agnes Joy—FRI—APR 17
Phoenix /Føniks—FRI—APR 24
Maria’s Paradise /Marian paratiisi—FRI—MAY 1
The Deposit /Tryggð—FRI—MAY 8
The Reformist — A Female Imam /Reformisten—FRI—MAY 15