A Light That Never Goes Out

Boundless creativity, mental health struggles, and a hologram dog come together in a big-hearted drama that celebrates amateur music.

After a breakdown, classically trained star flautist Pauli returns to his hometown to live with his parents. Haunted by failure and a sense of being lost, he crosses paths with the outspoken and experimentally minded amateur musician Iiris. She quickly draws Pauli into an avant-garde music project, and despite his initial hesitation, the two begin to collaborate. Despite touching on themes such as burnout, performance anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, debut director Lauri-Matti Parppei crafts a life-affirming and tender film about daring to try new paths in order to untangle what lies within.

• Tobias Åkesson