Teräsleidit

(2020-)

Teräsleidit (2020) is a Finnish film that follows the story of Inkeri, a 75-year-old woman who has endured belittlement by her husband, Tapio, for nearly five decades. Fed up with her situation, Inkeri makes a drastic decision to hit Tapio over the head with a frying pan, intending to bury him in their garden and finally have her freedom. However, she soon realizes that she will likely spend the rest of her life in prison for her actions.

With this realization, Inkeri decides to embark on a final road trip with her sisters, Sylvi and Raili, to Koli National Park. Their journey through Finland is filled with adventures that include picking up a charming young hitchhiker, experiencing car trouble, and indulging in some carefree dancing at a restaurant.

During the trip, Inkeri stumbles upon her old university writings and is reminded of her suppressed dreams and desires for a feminist revolution in the 1970s. When she reconnects with Eino, a crush from her youth, Inkeri is faced with the question of whether he remembers her or if he is merely a figment of her imagination.

Complicating matters further, Tapio reappears alive, leaving Inkeri with a difficult choice to make regarding her future. Will she choose convention and return to her old life, or will she embrace happiness and the freedom she once desired? Teräsleidit is a poignant and thought-provoking film that explores themes of liberation, choice, and the enduring power of dreams.